1956 Map of Collins

About this map

Gruetli-Laager and Palmer anchor the southern reaches of this landscape, where the plateau's rugged rim meets the deep incision of the Collins River. This area is characterized by its legacy of industrial and transit history, evidenced by the Strip Mines in the northeast and the corridor of the Chattanooga Mc Minnville Stage Road. The map documents a scattered rural network of small communities and social centers like Barkertown, Browns Chapel, and the Barker Sch. The terrain is defined by dramatic topographic drops into areas like Elder Thicket Gulf and Savage Creek, much of which is preserved within the South Cumberland Recreation Area. Transportation evolution is visible in the transition from the old stage road to the Old RR Grade winding through the hills near Tatesville, reflecting the shifting economic priorities of the mid-20th century.