1936 Map of Life

About this map

Tennessee Basin Divide dominates the central topography of this 1936 Henderson County survey, partitioning the landscape between various drainage networks. The map documents a rural society deeply rooted in its local institutions, evidenced by the high density of family and community cemeteries such as Mullins Cem, Horn Cem, and Mt Zion Cem. A network of country schools, including Pressler Sch, Laster Sch, and Thomas Sch, are scattered across the terrain, serving small settlements like Life and Stegall. Notable for social historians is the presence of the Poorhouse and its associated County Farm Cem. The region's hydraulic engineering is visible through numerous drainage projects, specifically the Beech River Drainage Ditch and the Middleton Creek Drainage Ditch, which reflect efforts to manage the wetlands within the basin during the mid-1930s.