1891 Map of Jonesville

About this map

Cumberland Mountain and Pine Mountain dominate this late 19th-century landscape, where the high ridges of the Appalachians define the borders of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. This survey shows the region before industrial modernization, relying on a series of river crossings like Shafer Fd, Poteet Ford, and Dickerson Ford to connect the valley settlements. The terrain is a complex network of narrow hollows and high ridges, including Little Black Mountain and Newman Ridge, which channeled movement between the Cumberland River and Powell River watersheds. Significant early settlements such as Jonesville and Sneedville serve as regional anchors, while smaller communities like Mt Pleasant and Wallins Creek are positioned along the winding watercourses. The inclusion of gaps like Pennington Gap and Hunter Gap highlights the vital importance of natural passes for travel through the formidable mountain chains.