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1957 Map of Unaka

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Unaka
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Hiwassee Lake and Apalachia Lake dominate this 1957 landscape, where the Hiwassee River was harnessed for power and flood control. The engineering of the Hiwassee Dam created a distinct local geography, shaping the small settlement of Hiwassee Village nearby. While the waters altered the valley floors, the surrounding Unicoi Mountains remained home to established communities like Unaka and the now-submerged vicinity of Ogreeta.

Genealogists can trace local family lineages through numerous small burial grounds and congregations, including Lenderman Cem, Farrow Cem, and New Prospect Ch. The map details the legacy of early industry and transport, from the Joe Brown Highway threading through Morrow Gap to the location of Hyatt Mill on the southern reaches of the sheet. Ridges like Beaverdam Ridge and Copper Ridge divide the many creeks that fed the river before the reservoir era.