1939 Map of Rankin

About this map

The confluence of the Nolichucky River and the French Broad River dominates this 1939 Tennessee Valley Authority survey, illustrating a landscape defined by its fertile river lowlands and early transit crossings. The French Broad River Bottoms and Dutch Bottoms show a high concentration of agrarian activity, anchored by small settlements like Rankin and Bybee. Transportation history is well-preserved here, from the Solomon Ferry and Conway Bridge to the tracks of the Southern RR and the Dixie Highway skirting the western edge. Local community life is documented through numerous rural institutions, including the Atchley Mill, Slate Creek Cem, and schools such as Talley Memorial Sch and Grandview Sch. This map captures the region before the later 20th-century shifts in land use and reservoir management altered these riverine valleys.