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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

Bristol straddles the state line between Virginia and Tennessee, serving as a significant regional hub where the Southern and Norfolk and Western railroads intersect. The mid-century urban core is surrounded by developing neighborhoods like Fairmount, Virginia Heights, and McChesney Heights. Educational institutions are prominent across the landscape, including Virginia Intermont College, King College, and local schools such as Douglas High Sch.

To the south and west, the terrain transitions into the steep ridges of The Knobs and White Top, where the Bristol International Speedway (Dragstrip) appears near the South Fork Holston River. This era of the city is characterized by its reliance on the twin-city infrastructure, with State Street dividing the two jurisdictions. Numerous family cemeteries like Shankle Cem and Moore Cem are preserved throughout the outlying valleys of Dishner Valley Ridge and Three Springs.