Survey Map of Bradley County, undated

Image 13 of 14

Hand-drawn survey of an area of Bradley County and McMinn County. Indicated are the Hiwassee River, Candy Creek, Chatata Creek, and Chestua Creek as well as the towns of Athens, Calhoun, Charleston, Cleveland, Benton. The East Tennessee, Virginia, and Georgia Railroad is also labeled. Shows the township and range grid. // More information and large version available for free download --

Maps are important for historical and genealogical research, but they are crucial for understanding the development of Bradley County across time. 

Maps of the region before the Cherokee Cession show important geographic and topographic landmarks.  County boundary maps show how the county formed from its parents as well as how it existed after its “child” counties were set off.

Researching Bradley County land ownership presents a situation somewhat unique in East Tennessee:  land is described in both metes-and-bounds and townships/ranges/sections, depending on the record.

This is a small selection of maps that will, we hope, provide researchers with a starting point.  One can never have too many maps!