1941 Map of Hazelwood

About this map

The Plott Balsams dominate this landscape of the Great Smoky Mountains, where the high peaks of Plott Balsam and Jones Knob tower over the emerging mid-century infrastructure of the southern Appalachians. The Southern railroad and U S 23 corridor serve as the primary artery for the mountain communities of Hazelwood, Saunook, and Balsam. While Waynesville occupies the northeastern edge, the interior is defined by institutional and industrial footprints, including the Prison Camp near Richland Creek, the Morrison Fish Hatchery, and the high-elevation Grassy Ridge Mine. Local family history is preserved through numerous burial grounds like Plott Cem and Redbank Cem, while the Waynesville Reservoir tucked into Big Field Cove Branch illustrates the era's focus on managed water resources for the growing mountain population.