1940 Map of Blocton

About this map

West Blocton and the neighboring community of Blocton anchor this survey of the Alabama coal country, revealing a landscape defined by industrial extraction and rail transport. The Southern, Louisville and Nashville, and Mobile and Ohio railroads converge here, connecting settlements like Belle Ellen, Coleanor, and Piper to the broader regional economy. The rugged terrain is deeply etched by the Cahaba River and the Little Cahaba River, while the rural uplands are dotted with family-named landmarks and community institutions such as Mt Carmel Ch and Rock Institute Sch. One notable crossing, the Pratt Ferry Bridge, provides a vital link across the Cahaba in the southern reaches. The density of small schools and chapels, including Ada Chapel and Blue Grove Sch, reflects a dispersed but active population living amidst the ridges and creek valleys of Bibb County.