1947 Map of Durham

About this map

Lookout Mountain dominates the topography of this corner of Walker and Dade counties, creating a landscape defined by deep gaps and steep gulches. In the late 1940s, the village of Durham serves as a hub near the coal mining operations that once thrived on the plateau, connected to the valley via the Central of Georgia Road. To the west, the dramatic drop-offs of Cloudland Canyon State Park are evident, with Sitton Gulch Creek carving through the terrain near Case Cavern. The map captures a transition in Georgia's mountain economy, where rural settlements like Cassandra and Thompsonville remain centered around community landmarks like the Lookout Mtn Rural Sch and Pleasant Grove Ch. Transportation routes are strictly divided by the geography, with the Tennessee Alabama and Georgia RR following the lower elevation of Chattanooga Creek while the Scenic Highway traces the ridge top.