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1943 Map of Ketner Gap

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Ketner Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Powells Crossroads serves as a central hub in this mid-century portrait of the Sequatchie Valley, where the flat bottomlands meet the rising wall of the Cumberland Escarpment. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the agricultural plains of the Sequatchie River to the wooded heights accessed through Ketner Gap. Along the valley floor, the Alvin York Highway and the Chattanooga and St Louis RR parallel the river, connecting rural outposts like Shirleyton and Looneys.

Genealogists will find a wealth of family history marked by numerous burial grounds and local institutions, such as Pickett Cem, Grayson Cem, and Hicks Chapel Sch. The map also captures specialized 1940s infrastructure including a Lookout Tower and an Airway Beacon, reflecting the era's navigational and fire-monitoring needs. The drainage network is particularly detailed, tracing the winding paths of Suck Creek and Mullens Creek as they cut through the plateau.