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1974 Map of Varilla

Name: 1974 Topographic Map of Varilla
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1983
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1983

About this map

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park dominates the southern landscape of this mid-1970s survey, marking the intersection of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. The terrain is defined by the steep ridges of Brush Mountain and Cumberland Mountain, where the Louisville and Nashville RR follows the Cumberland River corridor through Varilla. This era shows a landscape heavily shaped by extraction, with numerous strip mines and strip mine sites carved into the slopes of Hances Ridge and Bailey Hill.

Local life is centered around small hollows and creek junctions, evidenced by landmarks like the Cabbage Sch and Elydale Sch. Genealogists will find several family-named burial sites, including the Miracle Cem, Buell Cem, and Jackson Cem. The transition from the industrial river valley to the protected wilderness of the national park highlights the dual character of Bell County during this period.