1977 Map of Zirconia

About this map

The Southern Blue Ridge landscape south of Henderson is defined by the significant impoundments of Lake Summit and Poinsett Reservoir. This 1977 orthophotoquad, produced from aerial imagery rectified by the Geological Survey and the Soil Conservation Service, reveals the intricate relationship between the region's steep topography and its water management systems. The imagery highlights the winding shoreline of Lake Summit in the north and the larger expanse of the Poinsett Reservoir to the south, separated by heavily wooded ridgelines. Clearings and road networks following the contours of the land indicate rural development and agricultural patterns typical of the late 1970s. This aerial perspective provides a literal look at the forest cover and land use across the North Carolina and South Carolina border before later decades of expansion.