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2022 Map of Rowan

Name: 2022 Topographic Map of Rowan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2022
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2022

About this map

The lowlands of the South River and Black River converge in this corner of North Carolina, creating an intricate network of Carolina bays and swampy depressions. Small settlements like Rowan and Reedy Crossway occupy the slightly higher ground between expansive wetland features such as Big Bay, Dismal Bay, and Tussock Bay. The landscape is heavily marked by local family history, evidenced by a high density of small burial grounds including Salem Cem, Sellars Cem, and Pridgen Cem that dot the wooded fringes of the wetlands.

Transportation through the basin is defined by winding rural routes like Beattys Bridge Rd and Old Whitehall Rd, which navigate around the numerous "bays" and "swamps" that characterize the terrain. Near the center of the sheet, Smith Mill Pond and Yonder Airport stand as distinct human-made landmarks amidst the natural drainages of Colly Cr and Rowan Cr. The area reflects a quiet, dispersed settlement pattern typical of the state's coastal plain, where geography is dictated by the slow-moving waters and seasonal saturations of the river bottoms.