Loading map...

1896 Map of Wartburg

Name: 1896 Topographic Map of Wartburg
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1927
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1927

About this map

Wartburg and Jamestown anchor this late-nineteenth-century survey of the Cumberland Plateau, where the rugged topography of The Wilderness meets the developing rail corridors of the Cincinnati New Orleans and Texas Pacific R.R. The landscape is defined by deep river gorges cut by the South Fork Cumberland River, Emory River, and Obed River, creating a natural barrier that dictated early settlement patterns.

Genealogists will find numerous small communities and post offices such as Rugby, Burrville (Mt.Vernon), and Deer Lodge. The map captures the region before modern highway systems, revealing a network of mountain gaps like Chaney Gap and Wiley Gap that served as vital passages through Cumberland Mountain. Notable landmarks including The Temple and Pilot Mountain stand out against the intricate contour lines, providing clear reference points for historical land use and early Tennessee mountain life.