1957 Map of Unaka

About this map

The Hiwassee River winds through the heart of this landscape, its waters slowed and expanded by the massive Hiwassee Dam and the downstream reach of Apalachia Lake. This borderland between North Carolina and Tennessee is defined by the sharp ridges of the Unicoi Mountains, where the Joe Brown Highway snakes through the high gaps. Small settlements like Unaka and Ogreeta are situated near the fingers of Hiwassee Lake, reflecting the intersection of hydroelectric development and rural Appalachian life. Genealogists and local historians will find numerous family-named landmarks and institutions, including Reids Chapel, New Hope Ch, and the Violet Cem. From the timbered slopes of Lead Mountain to the industry at Hyatt Mill, the map documents a region of transition where public lands like the Nantahala National Forest meet the evolving shoreline of the Tennessee Valley Authority's reservoir system.