1940 Map of Tapoco

About this map

Calderwood Dam, Cheoah Dam, and Santeetlah Dam anchor the river-driven landscape along the Little Tennessee River and Cheoah River. This mid-century survey documents the region's hydro-electric infrastructure, featuring a Hydro-Electric Tunnel and the formation of Calderwood Lake. Beyond the industrial activity at Tapoco, the map reveals a rugged backcountry protected by the Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Evidence of local life is found at Beers Sch and Bethel Ch, while the remote high country is crossed by the Appalachian Trail. For genealogists and researchers, the presence of family-named sites like Farley Cem and Orr Cem provides specific connections to the residents of these mountain coves before mid-century changes reshaped the valley.