1935 Map of Pistol Gap

About this map

Sandy Ridge anchors the southern portion of this mid-1930s advance sheet, marking the convergence of the Buchanan, Russell, and Tazewell county lines. The landscape is defined by its strategic mountain passes, including Pistol Gap, Linn Spring Gap, and Shorts Gap, which served as critical transit points through the Appalachian high country. While much of the quadrangle remains undeveloped in this preliminary survey, the southern edge reveals a network of trails and primitive roads threading through drainages like Mill Creek and McGlothlin Hollow. The mapping of Linn Spring and the small settlement at Shorts provides valuable touchpoints for genealogists tracing family roots in this corner of the Commonwealth before modern highway development. The survey, a collaboration between the Tennessee Valley Authority and the U.S. Geological Survey, emphasizes the natural hydrology of the Little Fork and Coal Creek systems during the early years of regional utility planning.