Loading map...

1940 Map of Richardson Cove

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Richardson Cove
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Little Pigeon River winds through the heart of this Sevier County landscape, defining the topography of sharp ridges and deep hollows long before modern development transformed the region. The 1940 field examination captures a network of small, isolated mountain communities such as Richardson Cove and Harrisburg, where life centered around local institutions like the Smoky Mtn Academy and Zion Grove Ch. The map reveals a high density of rural schools and family burial grounds, including the Williams Cem and Ball Cem, which served the families living in places like Licklog Hollow and Harbin Hollow.

Transport is dictated by the water, with roads following the East Fork and Webb Creek. To the south, the boundary of the Great Smoky Mts Nat Park is clearly delineated near Pittman Center, marking the transition from settled agricultural valleys to protected wilderness. The placement of Boogertown Gap and Schoolhouse Gap illustrates the critical mountain passes used by residents to navigate between the Shields Mountain and Webb Mountain ranges.