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1967 Map of Big Spring

Name: 1967 Topographic Map of Big Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1970
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1970

About this map

The Tennessee River and the expansive Chickamauga Lake dominate this mid-century landscape, illustrating the profound impact of the Tennessee Valley Authority on the region. Significant bends in the river, such as Armstrong Bend and Gillespie Bend, frame a terrain rich with local history, including an Indian mound near the riverbank. This era of the late 1960s shows a transitional period where agricultural infrastructure like Cotton Port Road meets modern developments such as Mark Anton Airfield and William Jennings Bryan University.

Local families and small communities are well-documented through numerous small cemeteries and rural churches. Sites like Sullivan Cem, Garrison Cem, and McInturff Cem provide essential data for genealogists tracing ancestors in Meigs and Rhea Counties. The river's influence on the local economy and conservation is evident in the sprawling Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge and the specialized Blythe Ferry Goose Management Area, which preserve the natural sloughs and islands of the Tennessee and Hiwassee River confluence.