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1936 Map of Pope

Name: 1936 Topographic Map of Pope
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1936
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1936

About this map

The Tennessee River defines the western edge of this landscape, separating Perry County from Decatur County during the mid-1930s. This riverfront economy is marked by numerous historic points of access, including Brownsport Ldg, Kellys Landing, and Gumdale Landing, which served the local settlements of Pope and Gumdale. The interior terrain is heavily dissected by drainage systems like Cedar Creek and Cypress Creek, where small rural communities were centered around landmarks such as Birds Chapel, New Hope Ch, and Simmons Ch.

Industrial history is evidenced by the presence of the Old Furnace along Furnace Branch, indicating earlier iron production in the region. The map also documents a dense network of local education and genealogy, featuring the Cypress Creek Sch, Gumdale Sch, and the Simmons Cem. These details show a transition era where traditional river landings and small valley schools remained central to rural Tennessee life before significant mid-century changes to the river navigation and road systems.