The situation was bleak.  The soil was depleted. The best timber had been cut or burned.  Flooding devastated areas and washed away what decent topsoil remained.  Few had jobs.  Most lived primarily on the raw resources of the area, which were sparse. Many were undernourished. Housing was poor and only ten percent of the rural population had electricity. Illiteracy was rampant. Thirty percent were affected by malaria.  

A third world country?  Not in this case. Those were the conditions in the Tennessee Valley at the time of the Great Depression - a region that was particularly impacted by the economic crisis during that era.

Then along came the establishment, in 1933, of the single-most lifesaving project ever in the Tennessee Valley - the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).  The TVA was the New Deal’s most magnificent and far-reaching project.  The purpose of its creation was to change and improve the standards of living for the residents of the Tennessee Valley.  It was the first large regional planning agency of the federal government and is still the largest.

The impact that the TVA had on the region was phenomenal. The most dramatic changes occurred as a result of dams that were built to control flooding, improve navigation, and most importantly, harness the energy of the water for electricity. It then sold that electricity for a fraction of the cost of pre-TVA times. Power line construction brought power to areas that had no service. Lights went on and electric stoves and refrigerators were purchased.

Another component of the project was the land-use program which began in Muscle Shoals, AL with the conversion of a nitrate plant, originally built for war purposes, to one that made improved types of phosphate fertilizers.  The fertilizers were sold cheaply to the farmers who were then taught ways to improve crop yields and manage the land.  As a result, farm productivity reached levels never seen before.  In addition, timberland was replanted and methods to control forest fires were taught.

And with all of this, jobs and the possibilities of a better future for the residents of the Tennessee Valley were created.  The TVA construction projects provided work for many. Because most of these jobs were temporary, its job training program allowed employees to prepare themselves for other work when their TVA jobs were completed.  Inexpensive electricity and improved river navigation attracted industries to the region providing even more opportunities for employment. These improvements in the lives in the Valley led to the establishment of educational and recreational programs that are in still in place.

The TVA receives no public money for its present day programs but finances all of its endeavors with power revenues. Besides providing power at a lower rate than just about anywhere in the country, the TVA continues working on programs to protect the environment, conduct research, manage the rivers, and support economic development.

Present and future residents of the Tennessee Valley can thank President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal for establishing this well-rounded program of rehabilitation that turned a virtual wasteland into the thriving, scenic, and lush region that it is today.