1940 Map of Greens Creek

About this map

Dillsboro sits at the northern edge of this rugged landscape where the Southern Railway meets the Tuckasegee River. Recorded in 1940, the terrain is defined by the sharp ridges of the Nantahala National Forest and the intersecting boundaries of Swain, Jackson, and Macon Counties. The settlement pattern follows the narrow creek valleys, where small communities established essential institutions like the Greens Creek School and Savannah Church. A prominent Lookout Tower atop Cowee Bald overlooks the interior peaks, including Wesser Gap and Wolf Knob. This era shows a high density of rural infrastructure, with numerous family-named landmarks like Leatherman Gap and Bradley Buff alongside smaller hamlets such as Gay and Pumpkintown. The road network consists primarily of the primary corridors of U.S. 19-23 and N.C. 107, connecting these isolated valley farms to the larger regional trade hubs.