1957 Map of Chattanooga

About this map

Chattanooga and the surrounding Tennessee Valley are defined here by a massive hydraulic and industrial footprint, reflecting mid-century growth along the Tennessee River. The landscape is dominated by a sequence of reservoirs including Watts Bar Lake, Chickamauga Lake, and Melton Hill Lake, which transformed the river into a navigable power source for the region. To the north, the secretive Cold War expansion of Oak Ridge is established near the Clinch River, while the Volunteer Ordnance Works sits near the city center, marking the era's heavy military-industrial presence.