Loading map...

1947 Map of Alto

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Alto
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

The Cumberland Escarpment dominates the eastern edge of this 1940s landscape, where the plateau drops sharply into the coves of the Elk River valley. This area, spanning the intersection of Coffee, Grundy, and Franklin counties, reveals a traditional Southern agrarian layout centered on small community hubs like Alto and Pelham. Travel and trade are defined by historical crossings such as Dabbs Ford Bridge and Rutledge Ford, alongside the more modern path of the Dixie Highway.

Genealogists will find a high density of family-named burial grounds and rural institutions, from the Abernathy Cem and Tate Cem to local schools like Shake Rag Sch and Morris Sch. The river's winding path through Negro Bottom and Dickey Bottom underscores the significance of the fertile lowlands, while landmarks like Bells Mill highlight the small-scale industries that once supported these isolated Tennessee settlements.