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1946 Map of Sylva South

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Sylva South
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Western Carolina Teachers College anchors the community of Cullowhee, where the Tuckasegee River bends sharply through the mountain valley. This 1946 survey, with updates from the 1970s, captures the educational and social heart of Jackson County. To the north, the town of Sylva is situated along the Southern railroad and Scott Creek, serving as a vital transportation hub for the region. The map reveals a landscape defined by small river-bottom settlements and high-elevation ridges like Cullowhee Mountain and Black Mountain.

Genealogists will find a wealth of local landmarks, including the Stillwell Cem, Parris Cem, and Love Chapel Cem. Rural life is evidenced by the County Farm near Webster and various small places of worship such as Riverview Ch and Mt Carmel Ch. The transition from the developed valley floors to the protected wilderness of the Nantahala National Forest is clearly delineated, showing the interplay of agriculture and forestry in mid-century North Carolina.