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1958 Map of Altoona

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Altoona
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Altoona and Walnut Grove anchor this 1958 survey of the Alabama ridge-and-valley country, where the intersection of industry and rural life is clearly etched. The landscape is defined by the parallel ridges of Sand Mountain and Altoona Mountain, with the Locust Fork Black Warrior River carving a serpentine path through the northern gaps. Evidence of the region’s coal economy is prominent, with several strip mines located south of Altoona, illustrating the extractive industry that shaped these hills during the mid-20th century.

Transportation networks are heavily represented by the Louisville and Nashville railroad and the Nashville and Northwestern RR (Abandoned), which provide a record of evolving transit routes. Local genealogists will find significant detail in the numerous country churches and burial grounds scattered through the valleys, such as Sneadview Ch, New Emmaus Ch, and the Robbins Cem near the Thompson Bridge. Smaller community hubs like Ellison Crossroads and Hanna Pond illustrate the localized settlement patterns typical of Etowah and Blount counties.