1946 Map of Shellmound

About this map

Guntersville Res (Elev 595) and the N C & S T L railroad dominate the northern landscape near Shellmound, where the borders of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia converge. The terrain is defined by the massive plateau of Sand Mountain and the deep incision of Nickajack Cove, which creates a natural corridor for Cole City Creek. This 1945 field examination records a network of rural mountain communities and family landmarks, from the Scealf Sch and Burnett Chapel in the north to Stephensville and the county seat at Trenton in the south. The map provides precise locations for numerous small churches like New Home Ch and Shanty Town Ch, alongside remote burial grounds such as State Line Cem and Murphy Cem. The presence of Nickajack Cave near the river indicates the unique karst topography that shaped early settlement and transportation routes through the gaps.