Bear Creek was a major settling point for the Walkers
from at least the early 1840s, and more about the area
is covered in the Walker's Ford article. Depending upon
the time period, the residents likely considered themselves
residents of Walker's Ford or Lone Mountain, and the
U.S. Postal Service today considers the area part of
New Tazewell.
The creek can be reached from modern Lone Mountain
Road.
TVA Reservation Map
Most of the land around Bear Creek was not flooded
when Norris Dam was built but is owned by TVA as part
of their reservation, starting about at the current
end of Bear Creek Road, which once ran all the way to
the river, crossing over to what is now Walker's Ford
Road in Union County. Joe Payne has posted a photo of
the Walker's
Ford Bridge;
for most of the time period relevant to the Walkers,
though, there was no bridge.
The top, left-hand portion of this map covers a small
bit of Straight Creek which is covered in more detail
in the Straight Creek
map.