1975 Map of Benton NW

About this map

Selma and its northeastern rural environs are captured here during the mid-1970s via high-altitude aerial photography. This orthophotograph reveals the sharp contrast between the burgeoning industrial and residential footprint of the city's eastern edge and the sweeping agricultural patterns that define the Alabama Black Belt. The image captures the distinct layout of Brantley and Burnsville, where local roads and rail lines bisect the landscape. These settlements appear as small clusters of activity within a broader system of field plots, woodlots, and the meandering corridors of local watercourses. The inclusion of an airfield near Brantley provides a clear look at transportation infrastructure that served the region's agricultural and civil needs during this era.