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2016 Map of Paint Rock

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Paint Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The French Broad River carves a deep valley through the borderlands of Tennessee and North Carolina, defining the industrial and transit corridor of this mountain region. Small settlements like Lanceville, Paint Rock, and Wolf Creek follow the river's winding course, connected by a network of historical crossings including the Upper Twin Bridge and Grooms Bridge. The complex topography is marked by family and community history, evidenced by the Mooneyham Cem, Cutshall Cem, and Justis Cem found along the ridgelines and hollows.

Industrial and resource extraction history is visible in features like Gold Mine Ridge and Gold Mine Gap, while the higher elevations are dominated by the Bald Mountains and Meadow Creek Mountains. The map clearly delineates the boundary between the Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest, illustrating how public land management has preserved the landscape around landmarks such as Buffalo Rock and Chimney Rocks as modern infrastructure like Wicked Hill Rd continues to serve these older settlements.