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1940 Map of Santeetlah Creek

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Santeetlah Creek
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and the surrounding reaches of the Nantahala National Forest dominate this landscape, preserving a dense network of watercourses and ridges as they appeared in 1940. The area is defined by the high elevations of the Cheoah Mountains, where peaks like Huckleberry Knob and Stratton Bald overlook deep coves and gaps. In the northeast, the waters of Santeetlah Lake reach into narrow valleys, with Santeetlah Gap serving as a key passage through the terrain.

Local history is etched into the landscape through family-named landmarks and small community centers. Individual sites such as Tom Kalonuheska, Jess Teeseteska, and John Teeseteska reflect the human presence within these protected lands, alongside the Snowbird Sch and Mt Nebo Ch. Remote dwellings and outposts like Wilson Cabin, McGuires, and Dentons are linked by primitive roads and trails, illustrating the isolated settlement patterns that persisted in Graham County before later decades of development.