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1940 Map of Spurgeon

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Spurgeon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The South Fork Holston River and Watauga River converge in this detailed pre-war landscape, marking a vital transit and settlement corridor on the border of Sullivan and Washington Counties. Near the center, the community of Spurgeon sits along the winding riverbanks, while the industrial and transportation evolution of the region is visible through the Clinchfield railroad and the Free Hill Tunnel. The presence of McKellar Field Tri-City Airport in the northeast signals a shift toward modern infrastructure, even as traditional river-dependent sites like Shipley Ferry and Halls Mill remain prominently noted.

Local history and genealogy are well-represented by numerous rural institutions, including the Ladies Academy, Boone Cr Sch, and several community landmarks such as Wheeler Chapel and Buffalo Cem. The map tracks the complex topography of the river bends, from Deerlick Bend to Pickens Bend, where small settlements like Flourville and Boring established themselves near the water's edge and along the local creek networks.