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1957 Map of Chattanooga

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Chattanooga
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Chattanooga serves as the industrial and transportation hub for this mid-century survey of East Tennessee, situated at the dramatic bend of the Tennessee River. The landscape is dominated by the massive Cumberland Plateau and the sharp incline of Walden Ridge, which partition the region into distinct river valleys and highland forests. The era’s industrial footprint is significant, featuring the Atomic Energy Commission (Oak Ridge Area) at the northeast corner and the Volunteer Army Ammunition Plant near the city center.

Strategic water management is evident through the series of reservoirs including Watts Bar Lake, Chickamauga Lake, and Hales Bar Lake. These waterways, alongside major rail corridors like the Southern Ry and Louisville and Nashville RR, illustrate a region transitioning from rural isolation to a center of energy production and national defense. Mountainous wilderness areas like Cherokee National Forest and Fall Creek Falls State Park contrast with growing settlements such as Cleveland, Athens, and McMinnville.