1940 Map of Rockwood

About this map

Rockwood sits at the base of the Cumberland Escarpment, where the Southern railroad line follows the valley floor toward Westel. This 1940 preliminary edition captures the landscape as the Watts Bar Reservoir began to alter the course of the Tennessee River. The river winds around Thief Neck and past Half Moon Island, marking the boundaries between Roane, Rhea, and Meigs counties. On the higher ground of Walden Ridge, the Mt Roosevelt Lookout Tower overlooks a network of rural communities defined by landmarks like The Tabernacle and Eureka Chapel. Small industrial and agricultural sites are scattered throughout, including Eagle Furnace and Rockwood Landing, reflecting an era of river-based commerce and early mountain industry before modern infrastructure reshaped the valley's character.