1977 Map of Tungsten

About this map

Tungsten, North Carolina, is the focal point of this 1970s orthophotoquad, which reveals a landscape defined by the intricate fingers of the John H Kerr Reservoir. Unlike traditional line-drawn topographic maps, this aerial imagery, rectified by the Geological Survey and Soil Conservation Service, provides a raw view of the dense forests and agricultural clearings that bordered the reservoir's south shore in the late twentieth century. The dendritic pattern of the water's edge reaches deep into the terrain, following the path of Island Creek and its tributaries. This specific survey type is particularly valuable for researchers tracing land use and property boundaries of the era, as it shows the exact footprint of forest cover and shoreline development surrounding the small settlement of Tungsten at a time when the surrounding Vance County region was heavily influenced by the reservoir's presence.