1931 Map of Rural Retreat

About this map

The Middle Fork Holston River and South Fork Holston River carve through this landscape within the Unaka National Forest, defining the settlement patterns of the early 1930s. The northern corridor follows the Norfolk and Western railroad and the Lee Highway, connecting Atkins and Rural Retreat. In the more isolated southern valleys, smaller communities like Sugar Grove and Fisher rely on local landmarks such as Roberts Mill and the Old Iron Mine. The map reveals a dense network of rural infrastructure, including numerous one-room schoolhouses like Lindywood Sch and Summit Sch, alongside central gathering points such as Groseclose Chapel and St Matthews Ch. This survey provides a look at the region before modern highway expansions, showing the proximity of family sites like Wasson Cem to the primary transit routes of the era.