1959 Map of Salem

About this map

Salem lies at the heart of this landscape where the Blue Ridge Mountains descend into the newly formed reservoirs of the late twentieth century. This survey, based on 1950s data with later revisions, shows the dramatic transformation of the Oconee and Pickens county line as the Lake Jocassee and Lake Keowee projects reshaped the local topography. The map documents numerous mountain landmarks and family-named peaks such as McKinney Mtn and Smeltzer Mtn, alongside cultural sites like McKinney Chapel and Fall Creek Ch. Extensive timberlands of the Sumter National Forest dominate the northern terrain, while the southeastern corner transition into the Keowee Toxaway State Park. This record is particularly valuable for genealogists and local historians tracking the shift from river-bottom farming and mountain homesteading to a landscape defined by large-scale hydroelectric development and conservation.