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1946 Map of Sam Knob

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Sam Knob
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The Nantahala National Forest and Pisgah National Forest converge in this high-elevation region of North Carolina, where the triple county line of Haywood, Jackson, and Transylvania meets. The landscape is defined by massive peaks like Richland Balsam and Sam Knob, with the Blue Ridge Parkway winding through the gaps. In the lower valleys, evidence of rural community life appears at the Charley Creek Sch, tucked below the ridges of Wolf Mountain.

Hydrological patterns here are dictated by the steep terrain, with the headwaters of the West Fork Pigeon River and numerous branches like Tanasee Creek and Buckeye Creek draining the slopes. The map reveals a network of high-altitude balds and gaps, such as Charley Bald and Richland Gap, which have historically served as critical passage points across the Balsam Mountains. These features illustrate the isolation and specialized land use of the southern Appalachians before modern development altered the woodland character.