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1953 Map of Atlanta

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Atlanta
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Chattahoochee River corridor serves as the primary axis for development on this regional survey, which illustrates the mid-century expansion of Atlanta and its surrounding suburbs like Marietta and Decatur. To the west, the rugged Talladega Mountains and the Talladega National Forest dominate the Alabama side of the state line, providing a stark contrast to the burgeoning metropolitan infrastructure. Significant military installations including Fort McClellan, Dobbins AFB, and Fort McPherson underscore the region's strategic importance during the Cold War era.

Railroad networks such as the Seaboard Air Line and the Central of Georgia intersect with early interstate-precursor routes like U S 41, showing the transition from rail-dependent trade to automobile-driven growth. Notable geological landmarks like Stone Mountain and Kennesaw Mtn are clearly defined, while water management projects are represented by the recently formed Lake Sidney Lanier and Lake Allatoona.