1907 Map of Birmingham

About this map

Watts Mines and the growing industrial footprint of the Louisville and Nashville RR define the landscape north of the burgeoning city center during this first decade of the twentieth century. The map illustrates a complex network of mining communities and early transit corridors, where the Locust Fork and Mulberry Fork of the Black Warrior River weave through ridges like Sand Mountain and Blount Mountain. Rural life is meticulously documented through family-named infrastructure such as Guthrie Mill, Hanby Mill, and Tidwell Mill, alongside community hubs like the Box Schoolhouse and Grahams Chapel. The density of settlements like Brookside, Blossburg, and Warrior reflects the rapid development of the coal and iron industry, while places like Blount Springs hint at the area's older reputation for mineral waters. This survey documents the intersection of heavy industry and the established agrarian society before modern highways transformed the region.