Loading map...

1962 Map of Marion

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Marion
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Marion serves as a significant hub in the early 1960s where the Southern Railway and Clinchfield RR intersect, driving the development of nearby West Marion and Pleasant Gardens. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the industrial and transport corridor along the Catawba River to the protected heights of the Pisgah National Forest. To the west, the town of Old Fort sits at the foot of Heartbreak Ridge, a name that hints at the difficult terrain encountered by early travelers crossing the Blue Ridge.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific local landmarks, from rural congregations like Mt Calvary Ch and Oak Mtn Ch to family burial grounds such as Barnes Cem. The map also captures the local infrastructure of the era, including the Pleasant Gardens School and the Filtration Plant near the river. Water bodies like Lake Tahoma and Morgan Lake punctuate the mountain valleys, illustrating the region's historical reliance on its river and creek systems.