1959 Map of Birmingham South

About this map

Birmingham and its southern suburbs undergo significant post-war expansion across the ridge-and-valley topography of Jones Valley and Shades Mountain. The landscape is a study in contrasting land use, from the dense industrial rail corridors of the Southern and Central of Georgia railroads to the burgeoning residential developments in Homewood, Mountain Brook, and Vestavia Hills. Institutional landmarks like Howard College and Vulcan Park anchor the suburban landscape, while the sprawling grounds of Elmwood Cemetery serve as a major landmark in the west. South of the city, the terrain transitions into the more open spaces of Dolly Ridge and the banks of the Cahaba River, where smaller communities like Patton Chapel and Hoover are beginning to take shape alongside established areas like Bluff Park.