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1959 Map of Chelsea

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Chelsea
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

Oak Mountain State Park anchors this portion of Shelby County, where the ridgelines of Oak Mountain and Double Oak Mountain define the topography and settlement patterns. The landscape is marked by a series of high-elevation gaps and narrow passes, including Shackelford Gap and The Narrows, which dictated the early routes of travel and commerce. The Seaboard Coast Line railroad cuts through these gaps, serving small communities like Chelsea and Simmsville.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific landmarks, from the New Hope Sch near the northern border to numerous country churches such as Pleasant Valley Ch and K Springs Ch. The area is dotted with family-named burial grounds like Bailey Cem, Lacey Cem, and Allen Cem, alongside early water features such as Oak Mountain Lake and Lake Gizella. The map reflects a mid-century Alabama landscape where rural crossroads and timbered ridges remain the primary features.