1987 Map of Elm Bluff

About this map

The Alabama River carves a massive, winding path through this Dallas County landscape, defining the topography with its dramatic oxbows and swampy lowlands. This 1980s-era documentation, based on 1981 aerial photography, highlights the rural character of the region where the small settlement of Belknap sits near the northern boundary. The terrain is characterized by the intricate drainage systems of Mush Creek and Cedar Creek, which feed into the main river channel. The river's path through the Molette Bend area illustrates the historical reliance on water transport and the natural barriers created by the shifting riverbed. This map captures the area just before the turn of the century, providing a clear record of land use and water features in a part of the state where the river has long been the primary geographic force.