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1960 Map of Watauga Dam

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Watauga Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

Watauga Lake dominates the center of this landscape, its expansive waters held by the Watauga Dam and infrastructure including a power intake tower and overflow spillway. The settlement of Butler stands at the northern reaches of the reservoir, connected by the Butler Memorial Bridge near the junction of Cobb Creek and the Watauga River. This survey captures the region after the significant hydrological changes brought by the Tennessee Valley Authority, showing the relocated communities and established recreation points like Lakeshore Dock and Watauga Point Recreational Area.

The surrounding terrain is defined by the Iron Mountains and Pond Mountain, with the Appalachian Trail winding through the high ridges. Evidence of earlier eras remains visible through a dismantled RR and numerous family burial grounds such as Wagner Cem, Matherly Cem, and Bowers Cem. The map detail extends into the Cherokee National Forest and the Laurel Fork Wildlife Management Area, documenting a transition from extractive industry, like the strip mine at Ore Bank Hollow, to a landscape increasingly managed for conservation and power generation.