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1955 Map of Wilder

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Wilder
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The East Fork Obey River carves a deep valley through this portion of the Cumberland Plateau, where the rugged topography of Fentress and Overton counties dictated the development of isolated mining and timber communities. The Central Tennessee railroad line follows the contours of the southern hills, serving coal operations such as the prominent Strip Mines that mark the hillsides near Wilder. These settlements, including Davidson and Highland, are closely tied to the extraction industry, with small schoolhouses like Sweetgum Sch and Bills Creek Sch providing the social infrastructure for the families living along the creek branches.

Industrial activity is balanced by the persistence of family-named landmarks and rural outposts. Local genealogists can trace the placement of Turner Cem and Goney Cem, while the winding courses of Lost Cane Creek and Big Piney Creek define the natural boundaries between upland ridges. The map reveals the layout of the coal camps before late-20th-century shifts in mining technology and transportation altered the local economy.