Loading map...

1957 Map of Benton

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Benton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Alabama River carves a winding path through this mid-century landscape, defining the borders between Dallas, Lowndes, and Autauga counties. The river's dramatic oxbows at Durant Bend and Days Bend create isolated pockets of bottomland, while the surrounding terrain is marked by extensive wetlands like Blue Girth Swamp and Beach Creek Swamp. In the west, the presence of Craig Air Force Base and Selfield Airport signals the era's military and aviation infrastructure, situated near the historic community of Brantley.

Rural life is anchored by a dense network of country churches and schools, such as Jerusalem Ch, Lily Grove Ch, and Industrial Sch. The transportation corridor is dominated by the Western Railway of Alabama, which connects the small settlements of Tyler and Benton. This 1950s survey provides a detailed look at the transition between the river-focused agriculture of the bends and the emerging rail and military nodes of the region.