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1942 Map of Wayah Bald

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Wayah Bald
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

Wayah Bald and the surrounding high ridges of the Nantahala Mountains dominate this 1942 edition, which reflects the landscape as it appeared during the mid-1930s surveys. The terrain is defined by a series of prominent peaks, including Wine Spring Bald and Copper Bald, while the human footprint is concentrated in the deep valleys. The settlement of Rainbow Springs sits along the upper reaches of the Nantahala River, while the southern portion of the map follows the winding course of Shooting Creek.

Local life is anchored by country churches and schools such as Marshall Chapel, Mt Pleasant Ch, and Oakdale Sch. This era captures the region prior to major modern developments, showing the early road networks of U.S. Route No. 64 and the fire towers that watched over the Nantahala National Forest. The map provides excellent detail for genealogists tracking family names associated with landmarks like Lambert Cove, Johnson Br, and Wildes Knob.