1956 Map of Altamont

About this map

Cumberland Plateau geography defines this portion of Grundy County, where deep incisions like Savage Cove and Pepper Hollow drop away from the flat-topped highlands. The map documents the high-altitude resort character of Beersheba Springs and the administrative center at Altamont, connected by a network of winding roads and the historic Old Chattanooga Stage Road. This landscape reflects a mix of traditional mountain agriculture, early recreational retreats, and industrial extraction, evidenced by Strip Mines in the south and various family-named landmarks like Walker Cem and Killians Chapel. The dramatic geology is anchored by the Stone Door formation, overlooking the expansive South Cumberland Recreation Area. These 1987 revisions, based on 1950s data, trace the evolution of rural communities such as Gruetli-Laager and the development of local infrastructure including the Cumberland Heights Clinic.