1969 Map of Crane Hill

About this map

Lewis Smith Lake dominates the landscape of western Cullman County, its deep fingers reaching into the surrounding hill country along Crooked Creek and Ryan Creek. This late-1960s survey illustrates a rural community shaped by the reservoir's creation, showing how water transformed the drainages of Lick Creek and Pigeon Roost Creek. Small inland settlements such as Crane Hill and Brushy Pond serve as local centers, while the western edge of the map enters the William B Bankhead National Forest. The map is particularly rich in genealogical data, documenting numerous rural congregations such as Antioch Ch, Livingston Chapel, and Bethany Ch. Educational hubs like Dowling Jr High Sch and crossroads hamlets like Guthery Crossroads and Trade highlight the mid-century social infrastructure of these Alabama highlands.