1959 Map of Brookside

About this map

The winding loops of Locust Fork and Fivemile Creek define this section of the Birmingham Coal District during the late 1950s. The landscape is a complex intersection of heavy industry and small communities, with numerous Strip Mine operations and Strip Mines appearing alongside established settlements like Brookside and Graysville. Transportation networks are densely packed, featuring the Bankhead Highway and multiple rail lines, including the Southern Railway and the Louisville And Nashville Railroad, which served the region's mining interests. Local heritage is deeply rooted in the many small churches and schools that dot the hills, such as Caledonia Ch and Old Caledonia Ch in the northeast, and St Pauls Ch near Pinkney City. The presence of the U S Reservation (Flat Top Experimental Forest) provides a distinct contrast to the industrial activity that otherwise dominates the river valleys.