1968 Map of Bellevue

About this map

The Harpeth River meanders in dramatic loops through this portion of Davidson County, creating distinct geographic landforms like Hows Bend, Beech Bend, and Sawyer Bend. This late-1960s landscape, with photorevised updates from the early 1980s, shows the suburban expansion of Bellevue and West Meade as they pressed against the rural character of the region. The infrastructure of the era is evidenced by the Seaboard Coast Line railroad and the notable Newsom Drag Strip near the western edge. Cultural and educational anchors such as Bellevue High Sch, Gower Sch, and Harpeth Heights Ch serve the growing residential communities. To the south, the terrain becomes more varied around Backbone Ridge, where smaller settlements like Linton and Bethlehem maintain a more traditional rural footprint amidst the winding waters of the Little Harpeth River.