1953 Map of Shooks Gap

About this map

The French Broad River and Holston River converge here to form the Tennessee River, a defining hydrological junction that shaped the development of eastern Knoxville during the mid-20th century. This 1953 survey by the Tennessee Valley Authority and USGS reveals a landscape in transition, where the river-bottom farms of Pickel Island and the Eastern State Hospital Farm sit adjacent to expanding residential areas like Lake Forest and Burlington. The map captures the industrial foundations of the region, including the Meades Quarry and Neubert Quarry, alongside the early aviation infrastructure at the Island Airport. Local social and spiritual life is anchored by numerous small community hubs, from the Huckleberry Springs Church in the northeast to Shooks and Neubert in the south. The presence of Bays Mountain and Sharp Ridge dictates the winding path of the Southern Railway, while the developing Chapman Highway signals the era's shift toward increased automobile mobility.