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1947 Map of New Hope

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of New Hope
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Owens Cross Roads and New Hope anchor this 1947 landscape where the Tennessee Valley Authority’s influence is evident along the Wheeler Lake shoreline. The settlement pattern follows the valley floors between prominent elevations like Green Mountain and Keel Mountain, with small communities such as Elon and Oak Grove connected by a network of rural roads and river crossings. This survey captures a specific social geography through its dense recording of country churches and family burial grounds, including Baker Cem, Vann Cem, and Buggs Chapel.

The Flint River and Paint Rock River systems dictate the terrain, creating complex drainages like Glover Cove and Cedar Cove. For genealogists, the map is particularly valuable for identifying vanished landmarks such as the Cherokee School and Union Grove School. Historic river transit points like Carpenter Bridge and Swift Ford highlight the era's reliance on local waterway crossings before modern highway developments altered the Madison County interior.