2014 Map of Chelsea

About this map

Chelsea and the surrounding Shelby County foothills are defined by the parallel ridges of Oak Mtn and Double Oak Mtn, which frame the residential and agricultural corridors of the Cahaba Valley. This modern survey documents the suburban expansion of communities like New Hope and Simmsville as they grow into the gaps between these steep elevations. Historical depth is found in the distribution of family-named burial grounds such as Bailey Cem, Old Anton Cem, and the Mose Davis Cem near East Saginaw, pointing to generations of rural settlement before recent development. The landscape is dotted with small private impoundments including Lake Gizella, Demopolis Lake, and Bowden Lake, which serve as focal points for local land tracts. Critical passage points like Shackleford Gap and Morris Bridge illustrate how the geography of ridges and the S Fork Yellowleaf Cr have dictated the local transit network.