1969 Map of Fairmount

About this map

Walden Ridge and the dramatic Cumberland Escarpment dominate this 1969 topographic study, where the highland plateau drops sharply toward the suburbs of Chattanooga. The map documents a landscape in transition, where established rural communities like Fairmount and Lone Oak meet the expanding urban footprints of Signal Mountain and Red Bank. Transportation history is etched into the terrain via the winding Taft Highway and the serpentine descent known as The W, while industrial marks are visible through numerous strip mines and the Lewis Hollow Quarry. Genealogy interests are well-served by numerous family-named landmarks and burial grounds, including Sawyer Cem, Vandergriff Cem, and Roberts Cem. The map also highlights the area's mid-century communication infrastructure, noting several prominent radio and television towers concentrated along the ridge heights.