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1959 Map of Johnson City

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Johnson City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1979
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1979

About this map

The industrial and educational hub of Johnson City is revealed here at a time of significant post-war expansion. The confluence of the Southern Railway and Clinchfield Railroad underscores the city's role as a regional transport center, while the presence of Milligan College and the Veterans Administration Center at Mountain Home indicates the enduring importance of institutional landmarks. To the east, the Watauga River meanders toward Elizabethton, passing the Sycamore Shoals Monument, a site rooted in frontier history.

The topography transitions from the urbanized districts of Keystone and Roan Hill to the steep slopes of the Cherokee National Forest and Buffalo Mountain. Numerous family-named burial grounds like Patton-Simmons Cem and Saylor Cem are scattered across the ridges, providing a detailed record for genealogical study. The map also documents modern utility infrastructure, including the Watauga Steam Plant and the Johnson City Airfield, during a period of urban growth indicated by purple tint revisions.