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2016 Map of Sylva North

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

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Nantahala National Forest dominates the high-elevation terrain of this North Carolina quadrangle, where the steep ridgelines of the Plott Balsams and the Great Balsam Mountains converge. The Blue Ridge Parkway winds across the eastern heights, passing significant peaks like Waterrock Knob and Browning Knob along the Jackson and Haywood county line. This 2016 survey illustrates the relationship between the protected forest wilderness and the populated valleys below, where the Great Smoky Mountains Expressway connects smaller communities.

Local history is concentrated along the river corridors and gaps, with many family burial sites such as Dills Cem, Keener Cem, and the Norman-Blanton Cem located near the headwaters of Scott Creek. The settlement pattern follows the geography of the coves, including Dills Cove and Monteith Cove, while the Sylva Reservoir and Fisher Creek manage water resources for the area north of Sylva. These features highlight a landscape defined by traditional Appalachian land use, where narrow valleys support hamlets like Addie and Beta amidst the surrounding national forest.