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1956 Map of Nashville

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Nashville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Nashville and its surrounding Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky landscapes are defined by the winding course of the Cumberland River and a massive expansion of regional water infrastructure. This 1960s-era revision shows the full footprint of Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley on the western edge, flanking the Tennessee Ridge. To the east, Old Hickory Lake and the Barren River Lake reflect the post-war engineering that reshaped the Cumberland and Barren River basins.

The map details a maturing transportation network where the Louisville and Nashville and Tennessee Central railroads intersect with burgeoning suburbs like Belle Meade, Hendersonville, and Old Hickory. Significant federal and state lands are established, including the expansive Fort Campbell Military Reservation and historic sites such as Fort Donelson National Military Park, providing a clear view of the region's mid-century transition from rural agriculture to a more connected, suburbanized hub.