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1938 Map of Keenburg

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Keenburg
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

The South Fork Holston River winds through the northern reaches of this territory, defining a landscape of hollows and ridges just before the creation of the massive regional reservoirs. Near the river, local life centered around small gatherings at Rock Hole Ch and the rural community of Silver Grove. To the south, the terrain rises sharply into the Cherokee National Forest, dominated by the massive bulk of Holston Mountain and the high point of Grandfather Knob.

Tracing the foothills reveals the economic foundations of the era, from the Abandoned Mines near Jonkin Knob to agricultural landmarks like Mc Caneys Mill. The map documents a network of one-room schools and neighborhood churches, such as Barnetts Sch and Mellon Memorial Ch, which served the scattered populations of Keenburg and Watauga Valley. Transportation is anchored by the Southern railroad line and the prominent Pike, illustrating the connection between these mountain settlements and the broader region.