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1935 Map of Tapoco

Name: 1935 Topographic Map of Tapoco
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1935
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1935

About this map

Little Tennessee River hydroelectric development defines this mid-1930s landscape where industrial engineering meets the high ridges of the Southern Appalachians. The Aluminum Company of America presence is pervasive, marked by its massive infrastructure projects including Cheoah Dam, Calderwood Dam, and a prominent transmission line cutting across the terrain. These industrial features contrast with the rural life centered around the settlement of Tapoco and local spiritual hubs like Bethel Ch and Primitive Ch.

The rugged borderlands between North Carolina and Tennessee are traced by the Appalachian Trail as it traverses Yellow Creek Mountain and Yellow Creek Ridge. In the southern portion of the map, the newly formed Santeetlah Lake and the Santeetlah Dam signify the ongoing transformation of the watershed. Notable natural landmarks such as Hangover and Deals Gap provide orientation within the vast stretches of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Nantahala National Forest.