2018 Map of Altoona

About this map

Altoona and its surrounding mountain ridges define the geography of this north Alabama landscape, situated where the borders of Blount, Etowah, and Marshall counties converge. The terrain is characterized by parallel valleys and steep ridgelines, including Sand Mountain to the northwest and the prominent Altoona Mtn and Straight Mtn to the south. Historically significant transport routes and gaps, such as Tanyard Gap and Silver Gap, provide passage between Murphree Valley and Sand Valley. The map records numerous family-named sites and rural landmarks, from Sam Hopper Mtn and Elrod Mtn to water features like Doctor Jenkins Lake and Snead Lake Two. Local heritage is well-preserved through documented cemeteries and gathering places, including the Altoona-Walnut Grove Cem, Cornelius Cem, and Samuels Chapel, reflecting a century of settlement in these narrow corridors of the Appalachian foothills.