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1962 Map of Marion

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Marion
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The Catawba River and its upper tributaries carve through the eastern slopes of the Blue Ridge in this early 1960s snapshot of McDowell County. At the heart of the landscape, Marion serves as a regional hub where the Southern railroad intersects with industrial and community landmarks like the Filtration Plant and Mt Calvary Ch. To the west, the village of Old Fort sits at the foot of the mountains, marking a transition into the dense terrain of the Pisgah National Forest and the scenic high-altitude route of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Water and topography define the local economy and culture, evidenced by the State Fish Hatchery near Hankins and the recreational waters of Lake Tahoma. Smaller, family-centric settlements like Lackey Town and Davistown are tucked along the winding courses of Crooked Creek and Cane Creek. The map documents a rural network of country sanctuaries and burial grounds, such as Zion Hill Cem and Clear Creek Chapel, which anchor the many mountain gaps and ridges that define this portion of North Carolina.