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1953 Map of Sandgap

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Sandgap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Sandgap and the surrounding Jackson County ridges are defined by the dense network of schools and churches that served these upland communities in the early 1950s. The landscape is characterized by steep hollows drained by Horse Lick Creek and Birch Lick Creek, much of which falls within the Cumberland National Forest. Small settlements like Waneta and Hurley are tucked into the valley floors, while higher elevations are marked by landmarks like the S Tree Lookout Tower on the western edge.

Local history is evident in the naming of rural institutions, from the Lettered Rock Ch to numbered schoolhouses like School No 1 and School No 2. The map also captures the early extractive and agricultural footprint of the region, including a Quarry near the Shop Branch and the winding course of the Pigeon Roost Creek. This survey provides a clear view of the mid-century road network connecting isolated farmsteads and ridges before significant modern development altered the rural character of the area.