1946 Map of Obey City

About this map

The Cumberland Plateau terrain near the intersection of Overton, Putnam, and Cumberland counties defined a landscape of resource extraction and isolated ridge-top settlements during the mid-20th century. While the Tennessee Central Railroad corridor supported heavy industry, numerous strip mines began to mark the slopes around Obey City and Cliff Springs. This period shows the transition from traditional agriculture to intensive coal mining, though the cultural fabric remains tied to the land through family-named landmarks like Looper Cem, Thompson Cem, and Norrod Cem.