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1960 Map of Johnson City

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Johnson City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The Southern Appalachians of the mid-twentieth century are defined by the massive water control projects of the Tennessee Valley Authority. This 1954 revision displays the significant expansion of the regional hydroelectric infrastructure, prominently featuring the Norris Reservoir, Cherokee Reservoir, and Douglas Reservoir. These artificial lakes transformed the valleys between the Clinch Mountain and Copper Ridge, fundamentally altering the local economy and transportation networks that once relied on free-flowing rivers like the Holston River and Nolichucky River.

Urban centers like Johnson City, Knoxville, and the industrial hub of Kingsport are shown connected by the Southern and Louisville and Nashville railroads. Along the northern border, the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park preserves the famous migratory route through the Cumberland Mountains, while the Cherokee National Forest and Pisgah National Forest dominate the southern highlands along the North Carolina state line.