1942 Map of Hepco

About this map

Pisgah National Forest encompasses much of this landscape in western North Carolina, where the borders of Haywood, Madison, and Buncombe counties meet. The 1941 field examination recorded a rural community structure defined by its proximity to water and high ridges, with several small religious and educational centers serving the mountain valleys. Along Fines Creek, local life is anchored by the Fines Creek Sch and Fines Creek Ch, while further north, the Pine Grove Ch and Pine Grove Cem sit near the split in the mountain. The settlement of Hepco lies along the southwestern edge of the map, near the winding path of Pigeon River. Significant elevations like Sandymush Bald and New Found Mountain dictate the drainage patterns of Spring Creek and its many branches, illustrating the difficult terrain that historically isolated these Appalachian highlands.