1960 Map of Holston Valley

About this map

The South Fork Holston River is dominated by the reservoir formed behind the South Holston Dam, a massive landscape transformation that reshaped Sullivan County and Washington County at the Tennessee-Virginia border. This 1960 revision shows the inundated valleys of Jacob Creek and Fishdam Creek within the Cherokee National Forest, creating a complex shoreline that contrasts with the old overland routes like Jonesboro Road and the Daniel Boone Trail. Small rural centers such as Cleveland and Emmett persist on the margins of the rising water, while family-named landmarks like Scalf Cemetery and Ketron Cemetery provide critical data for tracing local lineage. Notable recreational and utility sites, including Bristol Caverns and the Bristol Waterworks, illustrate the varied use of this karst and mountain terrain.