2020 Map of Salem

About this map

The town of Salem sits at the southwestern edge of this landscape, where the foothills meet the rising elevations of the Sumter National Forest. This modern record reveals a geography dominated by the massive impoundments of Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee, which have transformed the historical drainage patterns of the Little River and Boones Creek. The area is characterized by several named peaks including McKinneys Mtn, Smeltzer Mtn, and Lydia Mtn, illustrating the transition from the Piedmont to the Blue Ridge mountains. For local history and genealogy research, the map labels several significant community landmarks. Settlements such as Jocassee, Eastatoe, and Boones Creek are depicted alongside religious and burial sites like Bethel Church, Fall Creek Baptist Church, and the McKinney Chapel Cem. These features, combined with a network of winding mountain roads like Whitewater Falls Rd and Smeltzer Mountain Rd, provide a modern perspective on a region deeply shaped by hydroelectric development.