1974 Map of Catherine

About this map

Catherine and Gastonburg serve as central hubs in this Wilcox County landscape, where the Southern railroad line cuts a straight path through the rural terrain. The area is densely marked by its community institutions, including the Catherine Academy and numerous rural houses of worship like Macedonia Ch and Salem Ch. Along the eastern edge, the Alabama River transforms into the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir, shaping the geography near Canton Bend and the site of Prairie. This 1970s survey documents a region defined by family-named landmarks and historical burial grounds, such as Prairie Bluff Cem and St Marys Ch Cem. The transition from river bottomlands to higher ground is evident in the network of creeks like Shell Creek and Chilatchee Creek, which drain toward the reservoir. For genealogists, the map preserves the exact locations of many smaller cemeteries, including Gastonburg Cem and Welcome Cem, which anchor the local history of these unincorporated settlements.