1957 Map of Rafter

About this map

The Cherokee National Forest dominates this mid-century survey of Monroe County, revealing a landscape defined by sharp ridges and narrow creek bottoms. In the northern reaches, the community center around Tariffville is anchored by the Ebenezer Ballplay Ch and Ballplay Sch, reflecting the importance of rural social hubs in this period. The terrain is marked by family-named heights such as Birchfield Mountain and Lynn Carden Mtn, while the western edge follows the course of the Tellico River near Tellico Ch. To the south, the settlement of Rafter sits near Friends Ch, surrounded by the Tellico Wildlife Management Area. The map captures an era of established forest management, where many small homesteads and local landmarks like Shaw Camp remained accessible via a network of secondary roads and trails through Huckleberry Ridge.