Linda, I would not get very far on the backroads of North Carolina without my North Carolina Atlas & Gazetteer, by DeLorme Mapping, though it is now very ragged and torn. It is reasonably priced and has detailed maps with lots of information. All the WalMarts and the Barnes & Noble Booksellers in North Carolina carry them. However, if you are in another state, your best bet may be to have a Barnes & Noble (or other bookstore) order a copy for you - I'm sure they would be able to get it in just a few days. More detailed topographical maps, which show all the little gravel roads and name all the mountain peaks, are available for areas of western NC in some of the bookstores and nicer gift shops - but right off hand I cannot tell you which ones. When lived in western NC, I found this type of map a necessity. I did a search for maps of western North Carolina and found the following site: http://www.fredsgeneral.com/maps.html Although I am not familiar with this particular site, it looks like exactly the type of place where you should be able to buy a good topographical map which would make your next trip to Madison County more successful. Trish In response to: >Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 00:18:30 EST >From: Ibeachball@aol.com >To: NCROOTS-L@rootsweb.com >Subject: [NCROOTS] Madison Co. > > I was wondering if anyone lives in Madison County, NC. I am trying to >obtain a county road map for Madison Co. from whichever agency would handle >such a thing -- state roads?, dept. of transportation?, county roads?..... > >Linda Ball >Researching: Anderson * Ball * Kent * Payne >Western NC