A public service for everyone interested in the unique history of Tryon, in the mountains of Western North Carolina.
1905 First Topo Map Tryon Vicinity
In 1905 skilled topographer W.L. Miller arrived to accomplish field work in Polk County for the US Geological Survey in Washington D.C. His remarkably accurate work depicts land contours and streams. The original map covers part of upstate South Carolina, all of Polk County except a small area east of Melvin Hill, some of Rutherford County and much of southern Henderson County.
Roads are those traversable by vehicles; bridle trails and footpaths aren’t shown. Maintained routes are indicated with solid lines, rough unmaintained routes with dotted lines.
Structures (but not outbuildings) of any size are shown as black squares. Rows of connected or densely-built-up structures are black lines.
We’ve greatly enlarged the original map, then created two images anyone can print off on standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
Tryon and Vicinity 1905
Ground 7.2 miles horizontal
includes Melrose, Hogback and Warrior mountains
Tryon & Lynn Close-up 1905
Ground 3.6 miles horizontal
enlarges town of Tryon and environs
Old routes southeast to Landrum SC prior to paved US Hwy 176. Former routings of Harmon Field Road, Lynn Road north from downtown Tryon, and road from Lynn to Columbus prior to State Highway 108.
Use later topographic maps and modern geospatial tools to compare today’s features with Miller’s 1905 map, and to add today’s names for roads, churches etc.
Just northwest of state line he indicates important 1877 Railroad Trestle that was made an earth-filled embankment in 1940s. Lake Lanier was created in 1926 by damming Vaughn’s Creek southwest of the trestle.
William Laval Miller: 1905 Mapmaker
Click here for biography and to learn more about how Miller made the map.