1955 Map of Flat Gap

About this map

The Tennessee Valley Divide snakes through this 1950s survey of the Virginia-Kentucky border, a landscape defined by sharp ridgelines and narrow creek bottoms. The Kentucky Virginia state line follows the crest of Pine Mountain, overlooking a network of hollows where small settlements like Gilley and Flat Gap sit at the headwaters of the Pound River. The terrain is marked by isolated rural institutions, including the Cane Patch Church and the Hunsucker Sch, which served families living in the shadows of Indian Mountain. Mapping of this area was a collaboration between the Geological Survey and the Tennessee Valley Authority, using aerial photography to trace the complex hydrology of the Powell River and Guest River systems. Within the Jefferson National Forest, landmarks such as the Lookout tower on Buck Knob highlight the region's managed timberlands and fire protection infrastructure.