1949 Map of Ewing

About this map

Cumberland Mountain dominates the center of this 1946 field examination, where the ridge lines define the border between Kentucky and Virginia. To the south, the valley floor around Ewing and Caylor is dotted with family cemeteries and small rural schools like Walker Sch and Evergreen Sch, reflecting a deeply established mountain community. The Louisville and Nashville railroad runs parallel to the Boone Trail, tracing the historical migration route through the gap. The northern portion of the map reveals the industrial character of the era, marked by several inclines serving mines along the steep slopes of Black Mountain and the settlement of Alva. This survey captures the transition from the agricultural valley, where Cowan Mill and Kesterson Mill stood, to the extractive economies and early preservation efforts at Cumberland National Historical Park.