1950 Map of Buchanan

About this map

Kentucky Lake dominates the eastern edge of this Tennessee landscape, where the waters of the Tennessee River have altered the drainage patterns of the Henry County backcountry. In the early 1950s, the terrain west of the reservoir is defined by an intricate network of waterways and early reclamation projects, including the Blood River Drainage Canal and the South Fork Drainage Canal. The settlement of Buchanan sits at a central crossroads, serving as a focal point for a dispersed rural community connected by the Austin Memorial Highway. The map reveals a dense distribution of family and community landmarks, particularly country churches like Mt Sinai Ch and Blood River Ch. Significant genealogical data is present through numerous small burial grounds, such as Heglar Chapel Cem, Neece Cem, and Patterson Cem, which trace the ancestral footprints of the families settled along the creeks and forks.