1940 Map of Waterville

About this map

Waterville and its surrounding mountain ridges sit at the convergence of three significant public lands, with the Cherokee National Forest, Pisgah National Forest, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park all meeting near the Tennessee North Carolina state line. The landscape is defined by its extreme relief, traced by the early route of the Appalachian Trail as it crosses Davenport Gap and winds through the Snowbird Mountains. A high concentration of family cemeteries and rural schoolhouses, such as Bell Hill Sch and New Prospect Sch, are scattered throughout the hollows, indicating a dispersed but established upland community. The presence of the Power Plant and Surge Tank at Waterville marks a transition toward industrial infrastructure in a region otherwise dominated by traditional settlements like Laws and Tom Town. Local spiritual life is anchored by landmarks like Andrews Chapel and Piney Grove Ch, while numerous streams like Big Creek and Grassy Fork drain the steep slopes of Mt Sterling.