1894 Map of Roan Mountain

About this map

The Tennessee North Carolina Boundary Line snakes through the high country in this late-19th-century survey, dividing the peaks of the Unaka Mountains and Stone Mountain. This era is defined by the deep river valleys of the Watauga River and Nolichucky River, where vital crossings like Shipley Ferry and Yoakley Ferry served local commerce before the proliferation of modern bridges. The rail network of the East Tennessee Virginia and Georgia Railroad connects the industrial hubs of Johnson and Elizabethton, while the Charleston Cincinnati and Chicago Railroad follows the rugged course of the Doe River. Genealogists may find interest in the numerous named fords and mills, such as Bowman Mill and Spurgeon Ford, which mark the early settlement patterns of Sullivan and Carter counties. High-altitude landmarks like Roan High Knob and the Cloudland settlement highlight the elevation changes of this Appalachian landscape.