2016 Map of Rankin

About this map

Douglas Lake and the confluence of the Nolichucky River and French Broad River dominate this Cocke County landscape, where the waters meet amidst a network of low-lying bottoms and islands. The settlement of Rankin sits at the heart of these river plains, surrounded by fertile stretches like Rankin Bottoms and Irish Bottoms. The terrain transitions from these alluvial flats into the ridges of Fowler Ridge and The Knobs, dotted with small communities including Bybee, Redwine, and Fowler Grove. Longstanding local family names are preserved through landmarks such as McNabb Bluff and Sawyer Hollow, alongside several historic burial grounds like Solomon Cem and Slate Creek Cem. The map reveals a rural infrastructure of winding roads such as Old Solomon Ferry Rd and Leepers Ferry Rd, which follow the ancient paths once dictated by the river crossings and the varied topography of the Tennessee Valley.