1942 Map of Hepco

About this map

Pisgah National Forest encompasses the high ridgelines of this 1941 field examination, where the Newfound Mountains and Hurricane Mountain divide the drainage basins of Fines Creek and the Meadow Fork of Spring Creek. The settlement of Hepco sits at a bend in the river near a Gaging Station, serving as a focal point for the surrounding mountain hollows. The social fabric of these remote gaps is clearly marked by a high density of rural institutions, including Fines Creek Ch, Fines Creek Sch, and Bellmont Ch. The map details a network of family-named landmarks and high-altitude crossings like Betsey Gap and Bear Wallow Gap, providing a window into the topographic constraints on Appalachian travel before modern highway expansion. Significant elevations like Sandymush Bald and Ravencliff Mtn anchor the tri-county corner where Haywood, Madison, and Buncombe counties meet.