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1936 Map of Topsy

Name: 1936 Topographic Map of Topsy
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1936
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1936

About this map

The Buffalo River snakes through the central hills of Wayne County in this 1930s survey, defining a landscape where travel relied heavily on river crossings like Carey Ford and Meredith Ford. The tiny settlement of Topsy serves as a central point for a rural community characterized by small family-named hollows and isolated schoolhouses, including the Topsy Sch and Morrow Valley Sch. The presence of the Tennessee Electric Power Company transmission line cutting across the northern reaches indicates the early infrastructure shifts of the Tennessee Valley Authority era.

Genealogists will find a wealth of local landmarks, from Matheny Camp in the north to the Kelly Chapel Sch near a prominent Natural Bridge. The map records numerous family burial sites, such as Dabbs Cem and Beatty Cem, and highlights the importance of State Highway No 48 as the primary artery connecting these upland communities. The terrain is marked by dramatic river bends, including Bachelor Bend and Johnson Bend, where the hills rise sharply to form Grinder Bluff.