2016 Map of Murphy

About this map

Murphy serves as the focal point of this Cherokee County landscape, situated at the confluence of the Hiwassee River and the Valley River in western North Carolina. The topography is defined by the expansive Nantahala National Forest, where steep ridges like Wildcat Mtn and Panther Top rise above the complex shorelines of Hiwassee Lake and Persimmon Lake. The map reveals a high concentration of family and community landmarks, particularly within the smaller settlements of Texana, Pleasant Valley, and Martins Creek. Genealogists will find numerous burial grounds preserved across the terrain, including Clounts Cemetary, Sunset Cem, and the Old Martins Creek Cem. The transition from old thoroughfares like the Old Murphy Hwy to modern infrastructure illustrates the persistent importance of this river-valley corridor for transport and regional settlement in the southern Appalachians.