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1940 Map of White Rock

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of White Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

Shelton Laurel Creek and Big Laurel Creek dominate this 1939 Tennessee Valley Authority field examination, carving deep valleys through the mountain landscape of Madison County. The area is characterized by small, dispersed settlements like White Rock and Cutshalltown, where social life centered around local institutions such as Brigman Chapel and Rice Sch. The presence of Rice Mill suggests a local economy tied to mountain agriculture and grain processing before the landscape was fully integrated into modern infrastructure.

Family history is deeply etched into the terrain through numerous small burial grounds, including Franklin Cem, Belva Cem, and Cook Cem. Topographical landmarks like Sugarloaf Mountain and No Business Knob provide clear navigation points across the Pisgah National Forest and Cherokee National Forest boundary. The map captures the intricate network of local routes, such as LR 315 and LR 321, which connected remote coves and ridges during the early twentieth century.