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2010 Map of McDonald

Name: 2010 Topographic Map of McDonald
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2010
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2010

About this map

McDonald Post Office sits at the northern edge of this Bradley County landscape, where the ridges and valleys of East Tennessee dictated the paths of early travel and commerce. The terrain is defined by a series of parallel features, including Lead Mine Ridge and Blue Springs Ridge, which channel the various branches and springs that once supported local farms and mills. The map records several named switches, such as Marble Switch and Weatherly Switch, indicating the area's historical reliance on the rail corridor for moving goods through Maroon Valley.

Genealogists and local historians will find a high density of family burial grounds scattered across the countryside, from the Lee Cemetery in the northwest to the McKamey Cemetery and Antioch Cemetery. Industrial history is represented by numerous mining operations and prospects, including the Black Fox Mine, Lord Mine, and Sloan Prospect, clustered primarily along the mineral-rich elevations of the eastern ridges. The presence of the Red Hill Lookout Tower and Hidden Valley Camp further illustrates the varied land use of this rural community.