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2016 Map of Swan Island

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Swan Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Clinch River carves a winding path through this corner of East Tennessee, creating distinctive landforms like Swan Island and the sharp turn at Lawson Bend. The landscape is defined by its ridges and hollows, where small settlements like Bray and Lawson Mill once established themselves along the water. The rugged topography is evident at Clouds Shoals and Thirtymile Shoals, which likely presented significant challenges to early river navigation.

Genealogists and local historians will find a high density of family burial grounds scattered throughout the valleys, including the Moles, Williams, and Hensley cemeteries. These sites, often located near settlements like Big Creek and Papaw, mark the long-standing family ties to the land. The transition between Hancock Co and its neighboring counties is clearly delineated across ridges like War Ridge and Comby Ridge, showing how the natural terrain dictated political boundaries and transport routes like War Creek Rd.