1940 Map of Johnson City

About this map

Johnson City serves as the industrial and transportation hub for this 1939 survey of Upper East Tennessee, where the intersection of the Southern, Clinchfield, and Et&WNC railroads drove regional growth. The landscape features a mix of urban development and rural mountain life, anchored by prominent institutions like the National Soldiers Home and Milligan College. Industrial activity is evident at the Tannery and along the Glanzstoff Highway, while the northeastern corner reveals the historical significance of the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals. Beyond the city limits, the terrain rises into the Cherokee National Forest, dotted with family-named hollows and landmarks like Blowing Cave and Rock House Cave. Numerous country schools and churches, such as Sinking Creek Ch and Taylor Chapel, highlight the dispersed rural settlements of the era.