1947 Map of Highlands

About this map

Highlands sits at the heart of this mountain landscape, appearing in the late 1940s as a developing hub for recreation and forestry within the Nantahala National Forest. The map documents early infrastructure for the area including a power plant, gaging station, and the Highlands Country Club near Lake Sequoyah. This era shows a community defined by its proximity to dramatic water features like Bridal Veil Falls and Dry Falls along the Cullasaja River, alongside rural community centers such as Shortoff Ch and Clear Creek Sch. The terrain is characterized by the Tenn Valley Divide, separating the Sugar Fork drainage from the headwaters of the Chattooga. Local family history is preserved through markers like the Highlands Cem and Horse Cove Cem, while the industrial past is hinted at by the Big Creek Bridge and various reservoirs serving the high-elevation settlement.