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1960 Map of Watauga Dam

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Watauga Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1989
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1989

About this map

The Watauga Lake reservoir dominates this Tennessee landscape, where the Watauga Dam and its engineering works—including a sluiceway control tower and overflow spillway—transformed the river valley into a massive recreational and power resource. The town of Butler sits at the northern end of the lake, near the Butler Memorial Bridge and the Watauga School, surrounded by numerous family cemeteries like Matherly Cem and Cochran Cem that anchor the local genealogy of the area.

Elevated terrain defines the southern and western portions of the quadrangle, with the Iron Mountains and the Appalachian Trail winding through the Cherokee National Forest. These highlands are dotted with remote gaps and knobs, such as Firescald Knob and Brushy Ridge Gap, while the Laurel Fork Wildlife Management Area preserves the wild character of the Little Laurel Branch drainage. Evidence of former transport networks is found in the dismantled railroad grade, indicating the area's transition from timber and rail to a water-focused economy.