2022 Map of Looneys Gap

About this map

Clinch Mountain and the parallel Copper Ridge dominate this section of the Tennessee-Virginia borderlands, creating a landscape of repeating ridges and narrow fertile valleys. The map illustrates a complex network of upland family cemeteries, such as the Sizemore Cem, Moneyhun Cem, and the Patton McConnell Cem, which are scattered along the slopes of Poor Valley and Caney Valley. These small burial sites often represent the only remaining identifiers of the early settler families who carved out homesteads in the hollows. The Clinch River meanders through the central terrain, punctuated by features like Rodgers Shoals and Hortons Island, while the North Fork Clinch River cuts through the northern portion of the sheet. Small commerce and community hubs are represented by locations like Jennings Store and the settlement of Independence, positioned near the historic pass at Looneys Gap.