1936 Map of Taft

About this map

Elk River winds through the northwestern corner of this Lincoln County survey, while a dense network of hollows such as Stillhouse Hollow and Hutchinson Hollow shapes the rural landscape. In 1936, the Tennessee Valley Authority and U.S. Geological Survey mapped this area as it transitioned into the modern electrical age, evidenced by the prominent Electric Transmission Line cutting across the terrain. Small rural hubs like Taft and Coldwater serve as anchors for the surrounding agricultural community, where social life centered on institutions like Smith Chapel and local schoolhouses including Mary Grove Sch. The map reveals a highly localized economy and geography, noting specific family-named landmarks like Bryant Cem and functional sites such as the County Farm Road. Low-lying areas in the southeast are dominated by the Whiteoak Swamp and Locke Swamp, showing the natural drainage patterns of the region before significant modern development.