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1892 Map of Stevenson

Name: 1892 Topographic Map of Stevenson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1892
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1892

About this map

Tennessee River crossings and mountain rail lines dominate this late nineteenth-century landscape where Jackson and De Kalb counties meet. The confluence of transportation and terrain is evident at Stevenson, where the Nashville Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad intersects with the Memphis and Charleston Railroad in the shadow of the Cumberland Plateau. These iron routes followed the natural gaps and valleys, while the river remained a vital artery served by Island Creek Ferry, Caperton Ferry, and Coffey's Ferry.

The map reveals a network of high-elevation coves and family-named landmarks like Doran's Cove and M'Mahon's Cove. Along the base of Lookout Mountain, the Alabama Great Southern Railroad connects small communities like Valley Head and Koaline. Natural landmarks such as Nickajack Cave and Saltpetre Cave are noted, providing a detailed view of the regional topography before twentieth-century modifications changed the river's flow.