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1956 Map of Corbin

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Corbin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Lake Cumberland and the Cumberland River anchor this mid-century view of the Cumberland Plateau, where the rugged topography of southern Kentucky and north-central Tennessee meets significant post-war development. The map reveals the critical intersection of natural preservation and industrial growth, featuring the expansive Cumberland National Forest alongside the burgeoning scientific and industrial hub at Oak Ridge. Extensive hydroelectric and recreation projects are evident through the footprints of Dale Hollow Lake, Center Hill Lake, and Norris Lake.

Transportation networks define the era's commerce, with the L & N RR and Southern Ry threading through mountain gaps near Corbin and La Follette. The map captures a moment when traditional Appalachian settlements like Jamestown and Livingston were increasingly connected by a modernizing highway system, including I-75, while still retaining their proximity to wilderness areas like the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area and Pickett State Park and Forest.