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1936 Map of Whitwell

Name: 1936 Topographic Map of Whitwell
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1936
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1936

About this map

The Whitwell valley and the adjacent Cumberland Plateau are captured here during a period of industrial transition. The Nashville Chattanooga and St Louis railroad serves as a central artery for the region, supporting a coal-driven economy evidenced by a prominent Coal Chute and several Incline rail segments climbing the steep plateau slopes. Near the Sequatchie River, traditional landmarks like Ketner Mill and Lane Chapel anchor the rural landscape.

Local life is recorded through a dense network of family-named schools and churches, including Red Hill Sch, Mt Olive Sch, and Belmont Ch. The topography is defined by the sharp transition from the valley floor to landmarks like Lick Point and Coppinger, with numerous water features such as Peter Cave Creek and English Cove carving into the plateau. This 1936 field examination provides a clear look at the intersection of mountain geography and the mid-century rail-and-coal infrastructure.