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1946 Map of Chavies

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Chavies
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

Big Wills Valley and Little Wills Valley slice through the DeKalb County landscape, partitioned by the long ridge of the Divide. This 1946 field examination captures the rural character of the Alabama plateau before modern suburbanization, centered on the intersection of the Tennessee River Road and the early development of Rainsville. The map illustrates a landscape defined by its topography and water access, with established crossings like Suttell Ford and Bohannon Ford serving the community alongside industry landmarks such as Hughes Mill and Killian Mill.

Genealogists and local historians can trace the distribution of early community life through numerous rural institutions, including Log Cabin School, Mt Herman Cemetery, and several mountain-gap crossings like Chavies Gap and McCurdy Gap. The presence of the Southern railroad line in the southeast corner near Collbran provides a clear view of the transport network that supported the local agricultural economy and provided access to the Fort Payne Water Works area.