1893 Map of Murphy

About this map

The Hiwassee River carves a deep path through this borderland region at the turn of the century, serving as the central artery for the rugged landscape of Cherokee County and its neighbors. In the southern reaches, the mining industry is well-established near Ducktown, where the Isabella Mine and Old Ten Mine mark the copper-rich hills. Transportation networks are in a state of transition, with the historic Federal Road cutting across the north while three distinct rail lines, including the Marietta and North Georgia R.R. and the Western N.C. R.R., push into the valleys to connect timber and mineral resources. Small mountain settlements like Tellico Plains and Rural Vale are scattered among prominent peaks such as Starr Mountain and Beaverdam Bald, illustrating a period when remote mountain coves were first being integrated into larger industrial economies.