1957 Map of Cheatham Dam

About this map

Cheatham Dam and the emerging Lake Cheatham anchor this late-1950s study of the Cumberland River valley where it forms the border between Dickson and Cheatham Counties. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the river bottomlands to the winding ridges of the Highland Rim, punctuated by rural communities like Chapmansboro and Bellsburg. This era captures the region as the Tennessee Central railroad still threads along the riverbanks, serving a rural economy of small settlements and isolated farmsteads. Local genealogy is well-represented through numerous country landmarks including Millers Chapel Ch, Jackson Chapel, and the Daniels Cem. Further south, the confluence of the Harpeth River at Johnson Bend provides a focal point for the Cheatham State Wildlife Management Area, showing the preservation of the river corridor amid the industrial progress represented by the dam.