1982 Map of Altha West

About this map

The Chipola River flows through the heart of this North Florida landscape, creating a complex network of wetlands and oxbows like Horseshoe Bend and Ring Jaw Island. In the early 1980s, the area around Altha and the small settlements of Willis and Chason maintained a rural character defined by a mosaic of numerous ponds and creek branches. Of particular interest to genealogists and local historians are the many small burial grounds and rural churches that dot the terrain, including New Shiloh Cem, Old Shiloh Cem, and Gortemoller Cem. The legacy of former transport is preserved in the Old Railroad Grade running through the northeastern quadrant, while modern infrastructure is represented by a network of pipelines and a local landing strip near the Jackson and Calhoun county line.