2022 Map of Tar Heel

About this map

The town of Tar Heel and the small settlement of Smiths anchor this coastal plain landscape along the border of Robeson and Bladen counties. This area is defined by a dense network of blackwater wetlands and basins, including Tenmile Swamp, Huckleberry Swamp, and White Oak Swamp. The water-dependent history of the region is evident in the presence of Hester Millpond, Bryan Millpond, and Paris Millpond, which suggest a past shaped by local milling operations. For genealogists and local historians, the sheet is particularly valuable for its documentation of numerous family burial grounds, such as the Old Pait and New Pait cemeteries, alongside Burney Cem, Grimes Cem, and Davis Cem. Large drainage projects like the Big Swamp Canal and Allen Pocket Canal intersect with natural features like Sims Pond Bay and Gum Flat Bay, illustrating long-standing efforts to manage the low-lying terrain for agriculture and habitation.