1933 Map of Independence

About this map

Independence sits at the heart of this mountain landscape, serving as a hub for the scattered farming and milling communities of Grayson County during the early 1940s. The area is defined by the winding course of the New River and its junction with the Little River, where numerous river crossings like Rose Ferry and Moore Ferry provided vital transport before modern bridging. The map captures a high density of rural institutions, including Cox Chapel, Maple Shade Ch, and Crab Orchard Sch, reflecting a deeply settled highland culture. Small-scale industry is evident in the survival of local hubs like Brookside Mill and Ohio Mill. To the north, the terrain rises into the Jefferson National Forest, where summits like Comers Rock and Point Lookout Mountain loom over the headwaters of Elk Creek.