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1943 Map of Montreat

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Montreat
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

Montreat and its neighboring valley communities are defined by the convergence of steep peaks and high-altitude watersheds in the Black Mountains. This 1943 survey, conducted by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Geological Survey, reveals a landscape of religious and educational retreat, anchored by Lake Susan and the nearby Black Mtn College at Lake Eden. The complex drainage patterns of the North Fork Swannanoa River and South Fork Swannanoa River dictate the settlement pattern, which is concentrated along the lower elevations while the high ridges are reserved for the Asheville Watershed and the Pisgah National Forest.

Evidence of local social history is found at Homers Chapel and the Mtn View Cem near Walkertown. Notable landmarks of the era include a Radio Tower atop Clingmans Peak and the early alignment of the Blue Ridge Parkway winding through the gaps of the Blue Ridge. The Southern railroad provides a vital link at the southern edge of the map, illustrating the rail-dependent transport network of the mid-20th century.