1950 Map of Reagan

About this map

Reagan and the surrounding rural communities of Henderson County define this landscape as it appeared at mid-century, transitioning from the high ridges of Big Pine Knob down to the floodplains of the Beech River. The map documents a strictly agricultural and forest-based economy, characterized by numerous small churches and family burial grounds like Judson Church, Mount Gilead Cem, and Ridley Chapel. A notable piece of transportation history is the Old RR Grade visible in the northern portion of the sheet near Warrens Bluff, showing the path of a decommissioned rail line that once connected these uplands. Drainage and flood control are central to the terrain, evidenced by the Lost Creek Dam and a series of canals and gaging stations along Cane Creek and the Beech River sloughs. These features reflect the 1950s efforts by the Tennessee Valley Authority to manage the local watershed through the TVA Reservation.