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1940 Map of Hewitt

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Hewitt
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

The Nantahala River carves through this portion of the Nantahala National Forest, where the Tennessee Valley Authority and USGS recorded the terrain during the early 1940s. The landscape is defined by the steep elevation of the Cheoah Mountains and Snowbird Mts, with the Appalachian Trail traversing ridgelines through Sassafras Gap and Stecoah Gap. Local life centered around small settlements like Stecoah, Beechertown, and Hidetown, with several family burial grounds including Randolph Cem and Jenkins Cem established in the valleys.

Transportation and utility infrastructure of the era is evident in the Old Railroad Grade and the presence of a Gaging Station and Surge Chamber along the river. These features, along with the Winding Stairs, reflect the complex engineering required to navigate and harness the water power of the Graham and Swain County borderlands. The map also captures several rural landmarks such as the Camp Branch Sch and the dramatic Queens Creek Falls.