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2016 Map of Valle Crucis

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Valle Crucis
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The Watauga River winds through this high-elevation terrain where the border of Watauga Co and Avery Co follows the prominent Tennessee Valley Divide. This landscape is defined by its deep hollows and steep ridges, including Beaverdam Ridge and Hanging Rock Ridge, which shaped the early settlement patterns and mountain agriculture of communities like Valle Crucis and Banner Elk. The area's cultural history is meticulously documented through numerous family burial grounds, such as Farthing Cem, Mast Cem, and Hicks Cem, providing essential data for genealogical research.

Institutional development is centered at Lees-McRae Coll near the western edge, while much of the central territory is preserved within the Pisgah National Forest. The map captures the specialized topography of the region, from the slopes of Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain to the high gaps like Mast Gap and Council Gap that facilitated movement between isolated valleys. The road network, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, follows the natural contours of the land, connecting older settlements like Vilas, Rominger, and Matney.