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1966 Map of Tallassee

Name: 1966 Topographic Map of Tallassee
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Little Tennessee River winds through a dramatic landscape of steep ridges and deep valleys, where the Chilhowee Dam creates the expansive Chilhowee Lake. This mid-1960s survey, updated in the 1980s, documents a community transition where traditional riverside settlements like Tallassee and Chota sit near the boundaries of the Cherokee National Forest and the Great Smoky Mtns National Park. The topography is defined by the massive spine of Chilhowee Mountain, punctuated by remote landmarks like Stony Grave Gap and Chilogatee Gap.

Local infrastructure of the era is remarkably detailed, showing the Scona Lodge Ferry crossing the river and several rural religious centers such as Williamson Chapel and Lower Chilhowee Church. Transportation history is visible through the Old Railroad Grade north of the river and winding mountain roads like Reagan Road. Smaller communities such as Wellsville and Pumpkin Center are mapped alongside family burial sites like McMurray Cem, providing a precise record for genealogists.