1942 Map of Hiawassee

About this map

The Hiwassee River valley and its surrounding ridges dominate this 1942 landscape, capturing the area during the initial filling of the Chatuge Reservoir. Blue shaded areas indicate the lands intended for submergence as the Tennessee Valley Authority transformed the river geography. Significant local centers like Young Harris and the county seat of Hiawassee are shown alongside smaller rural communities such as Jacksonville and Friendship. The map records a dense network of mountain schools and churches, including Brasstown Sch, Hog Creek Sch, and Old Union Ch, which served these high-country settlements before many were impacted by the new reservoir levels. From the agricultural bottoms of Brasstown Creek to the high peaks of Cedarcliff Mountain and Wolfpen Ridge, the map documents the transition of Towns County into the hydroelectric era within the Chattahoochee National Forest.