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2011 Map of Rural Retreat

Name: 2011 Topographic Map of Rural Retreat
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2011
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2011

About this map

Rural Retreat serves as the primary hub for this portion of Wythe County, situated near the headwaters of the Middle Fork Holston River and Reed Creek. The landscape is a mosaic of narrow valleys and ridges, characterized by family-named landmarks such as Ann Grubb Hollow, Tickle Pink Hollow, and Pickle Hollow. These names, alongside numerous small burial grounds like Floglesong Cemetery and Steffey Cemetery, provide a window into the ancestral settlement patterns of the region.

Industrial and transport infrastructure is represented by the Mountain Empire Airport and a network of crossroads settlements including Staley Crossroads, Summit, and Beaver. Higher elevations are marked by the Walker Mountain Lookout Tower and Groundhog Hill, overlooking a terrain carved by the North Fork Holston River and Huddle Branch. The map records a modern era of this community, where established residential streets like Chinquapin Ave and Richmond Ave meet older hollows and gaps.