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1946 Map of Smartt Mountain

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Smartt Mountain
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The Cumberland Plateau dominates this mid-century landscape where the borders of Van Buren, Bledsoe, and Sequatchie counties converge. The rugged topography is defined by significant elevations like Smartt Mountain and Jakes Mountain, separated by a complex network of drainage systems including Piney Creek and the meandering Rocky River. This 1946 field examination reveals a sparse but established settlement pattern focused on small gathering points such as Bellview Church and Hitchcox.

Evidence of early Appalachian life is found in scattered family sites and landmarks like Jordan Rock House and the Walling Cem near the plateau's edge. The map also documents a notable hydrology, from the upland Whiteoak Swamps to the narrow drainage of The Narrows. A high density of benchmarks throughout the terrain suggests the intensive surveying efforts undertaken by the Tennessee Valley Authority and USGS to map this difficult relief.