1963 Map of Oakway

About this map

Hartwell Lake dominates the southwestern corner of this landscape, its fingers stretching into the terrain where the Tugaloo River once flowed freely before being impounded. The map captures Oconee County during a period of transition, showing the newly formed shoreline alongside long-established rural communities. Inland, the settlement of Oakway serves as a local hub with its Oakway School, while smaller clusters like Old Retreat and South Union anchor the surrounding agricultural lands. The density of spiritual and social sites is notable, including Old Retreat Church and Tugaloo Church. Numerous family-named ponds and small watercourses like Choestoee Creek and Harbin Creek provide evidence of the area's complex drainage and historical land use. This survey was updated in the mid-1980s to reflect contemporary developments like the Water Tank near the High School while preserving the locations of traditional landmarks like Simpson Store.