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1966 Map of Tallassee

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Tallassee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

Chilhowee Lake and the developing Tellico Lake dominate this mid-1960s landscape along the border of Blount and Monroe Counties. The map captures a critical period of transition for the Little Tennessee River valley, showing the area as the Chilhowee Dam had already transformed the eastern reach, while downstream, land was being prepared for controlled inundation to the 813-foot level. This hydro-electric and navigational development reshaped the historic river corridor, which was once defined by features like Chilhowee Shoals and islands such as Harrison Island and Kirkland Island.

Away from the water, the topography rises sharply into the Chilhowee Mountain and Short Mountain ridges. Local life is documented through scattered settlements like Pumpkin Center and the community of Tallassee, alongside several rural houses of worship including Lower Chilhowee Church and Williamson Chapel. The southern portion of the sheet is largely preserved within the Cherokee National Forest, while the northeastern corner touches the boundary of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.