1946 Map of Rabun Bald

About this map

The Continental Divide winds along the Blue Ridge, defining the high-altitude landscape where the Chattahoochee National Forest meets the Nantahala National Forest. This 1946 field examination captures the scattered mountain communities of Rabun County before modern expansion, centering on the prominent peak of Rabun Bald and its Lookout Tower. Below the heights, the settlement pattern follows the water, with the Antioch community and several family burial grounds like Kelly Cem and Hale Church Cem tucked into the valleys of Warwoman Creek and Mud Creek. The geography is defined by numerous gaps and knobs, such as Rabun Gap and Flint Knob, which dictated early travel routes. Evidence of rural infrastructure remains visible through the Locust School at Locust School Gap and the Power Plant near Estatoah Falls, marking a moment when mid-century development began to touch these highland reaches.