1935 Map of Keenburg

About this map

The South Fork Holston River winds through this 1935 landscape, marking a period of diverse rural industry and settlement in Sullivan and Carter counties. Industrial activity is concentrated near Keenburg and Biltmore, where the Southern Railway corridor supports Brick Kilns and a Limestone Quarry. Further into the hills, the Old Bauxite Mines and local infrastructure like McCaneys Mill and Adams Mill point to an economy deeply tied to the land's mineral and water resources. The terrain is characterized by the slopes of Holston Mountain and Unaka Mountain, within which the Cherokee National Forest boundary begins. Social life of the era is anchored by small rural centers such as Hickory Tree and Chinquapin Grove, alongside Numerous country schools including Mt Holston Sch and Walnut Grove Sch. This survey also documents early recreational and conservation efforts, noting the Appalachian Trail crossing the mountain ridges and the Underwood Spring serving the nearby population.