The town in Tennessee that flooded was Loyston.
Loyston: A Town Lost to Water
Loyston, a former community located in Union County, Tennessee, met a unique fate when it was permanently inundated by water. This event transformed the bustling town into a ghost town, now resting beneath the surface of what is known today as Norris Lake.
The complete submersion of Loyston occurred in 1936. This significant event was a direct consequence of the completion of the Norris Dam, a monumental infrastructure project designed to harness the power of the Clinch River. As the dam was finished and the waters of the Clinch River began to rise, the area where Loyston stood was deliberately flooded to create the vast reservoir behind the dam.
Here's a quick overview of Loyston's fate:
| Detail | Description |
|---|---|
| Town | Loyston |
| County | Union County |
| State | Tennessee |
| Cause | Completion of Norris Dam |
| River | Clinch River (waters rose to inundate area) |
| Year | 1936 |
| Current Status | Inundated; considered a ghost town beneath Norris Lake |
The Legacy of Norris Dam
The Norris Dam, a New Deal-era project completed by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), was a pivotal development for the region. While it brought hydroelectric power, flood control, and recreational opportunities, its construction necessitated the displacement of numerous communities and the permanent alteration of the landscape, as seen with Loyston. The dam created Norris Lake, which became the new home for the waters that swallowed Loyston.
- Purpose: Primarily built for flood control and hydroelectric power generation.
- Impact: Transformed the Clinch River valley, creating Norris Lake and submerging former towns and farmland.
- Learn More: For additional information on the dam's history and impact, you can visit the Norris Dam Wikipedia page.
Ghost Towns of Tennessee
Loyston is just one example among many communities across the United States that became ghost towns due to major infrastructure projects like dam construction, mining booms that ended, or shifts in transportation routes. Its story serves as a poignant reminder of the human and geographical costs associated with progress and development.
