Loading map...

1959 Map of Bristol

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Bristol
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The twin-city border of Bristol straddles the line between Virginia and Tennessee, serving as a major regional hub defined by the tracks of the Southern and Norfolk and Western railroads. This 1959 survey, updated through the late 1970s, captures the dense educational landscape of the era, featuring King College, Sullins College, and Virginia Intermont College. The town center revolves around the Union Depot and Post Office, while the surrounding residential expansion is evident in neighborhoods like Virginia Heights, Fairmount, and Edgemont.

South of the urban core, the landscape transitions into the prominent ridges of The Knobs and White Top, where the Bristol International Speedway sits near the banks of Beaver Creek. The South Fork Holston River winds through the southeastern corner of the map, bordering the Cherokee National Forest. Historic travel routes, including the Daniel Boone Trail and the Lee Highway, anchor the transportation network that linked these Appalachian communities.