1957 Map of Cheatham Dam

About this map

The Cumberland River and Harpeth River define this landscape along the border of Cheatham and Dickson Counties. The construction of the Cheatham Dam dominates the central river valley, creating Lake Cheatham and altering the local hydrology. This 1957 survey, updated with 1981 aerial photography, captures the region's rural character through its concentration of small settlements like Bellsburg, Neptune, and Cheap Hill. Local life is anchored by community landmarks such as Millers Chapel Ch and its namesake school, Millers Chapel Sch, alongside several other country churches like Mt Zion Ch and Mt Liberty Ch. The map also reveals specialized land use within the Dyson Ditch Wildlife Refuge and the Waterfowl Harpeth Management Area, showing a transition from early farming towards managed conservation areas along the winding river bends like Johnson Bend.