1957 Map of Isabella

About this map

Isabella Mine and the nearby London Flotation Plant anchor a landscape defined by the industrial extraction of the Copper Basin during the mid-twentieth century. This survey documents the concentrated mining activity along the Louisville and Nashville rail corridor, featuring the McPherson Mine, Eureka Mine, and Calloway Mines. While heavy industry dominates the lowlands near the settlement of Isabella, the surrounding heights of the Cherokee National Forest and Nantahala National Forest are dotted with rural family-centric landmarks like Burger Town and McGeetown. A unique cultural presence is found on the ridge near the North Carolina border, where the Fields of the Wood and a massive Ten Commandments display are marked. The terrain is marked by numerous small churches and cemeteries, such as Croft Chapel and Neal Chapel Cem, providing essential points of interest for genealogists tracing local families in this border region.