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1940 Map of Bacon Gap

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Bacon Gap
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1940
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1940

About this map

Kingston and the surrounding river valleys are captured here at a critical moment of transformation as the Watts Bar Reservoir began to fill. This 1940 survey uses blue stippling to denote the specific lowlands destined for submersion, including portions of the Tennessee River and Clinch River banks. The landscape is defined by the River Knobs and several significant ridges like Bacon Ridge and Pisgah Ridge, which shaped the early settlement patterns of Roane County.

Rural life is deeply documented through numerous family-named landmarks and community centers, from the Chamberlain Sch and Fairview Sch to local congregations at Caney Ford Ch and Bethel Ch. For genealogists, the map is a vital resource for locating family burial grounds such as Riley Cem, Hagler Cem, and Shields Cem. Transportation history is equally prominent, featuring the historic Walton Road, the James Ferry, and river access points like Hood Landing before the rising waters altered the shoreline forever.