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1965 Map of Skyland

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Skyland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

The French Broad River carves a central path through this mid-1960s landscape, serving as a corridor for industry and transit. To its east, the Asheville Steam Plant and the growing Asheville Municipal Airport signify a shift toward modern infrastructure, while the Southern railroad line anchors established communities like Fletcher and Arden. The terrain transitions sharply from the developed river valley to the protected wilderness of the Pisgah Game Preserve and the Bent Creek Experimental Forest in the west.

Local history is preserved in the clustering of family-named landmarks and rural institutions, such as Lone Shoals Cem and Mt Zion Ch. The map captures the suburbanization of the era, evident in the residential layouts of Royal Pines and Skyland, while still documenting rural features like strip mines near Brickton and the ongoing construction of a new filtration plant. The winding route of the Blue Ridge Parkway skirts the northern peaks, connecting this rugged mountain geography to the regional touring network.