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1934 Map of Blocton

Name: 1934 Topographic Map of Blocton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

West Blocton and the surrounding mining district dominate this 1930s landscape, where industrial settlements like Belle Ellen, Coleanor, and Piper follow the coal-rich seams of central Alabama. The survey reveals a dense network of early 20th-century infrastructure, including the Southern and Louisville and Nashville railroads that once connected these isolated company towns to the larger iron and steel markets.

Rural life is marked by numerous family-named schools and churches, such as Mt Union Sch and Ada Chapel. Along the Cahaba River, features like Halfmile Shoals and the Pratt Ferry Bridge indicate the historical importance of the river crossings. The transition from industrial hubs like Blocton to the agricultural reaches of Scottsville and Sixmile provides a clear view of the region's diverse economic character during the Great Depression era.