1903 Map of Gadsden

About this map

Guntersville and the winding Tennessee River define the northern reaches of this late 19th-century landscape. Before the massive hydro-electric projects of the 20th century altered the river valley, the waterway was a hub of transit marked by Coal Landing, Lovelace Landing, and ferries serving early settlements like F't Deposit and Warrenton. The central plateau of Sand Mountain is dotted with developing communities such as Albertville, Boaz, and Horton, while the Nashville Chattanooga and St. Louis RR cuts a path through the valley toward the industrial rail junction at Attalla. Genealogists may find value in the specific locations of rural landmarks like Mt Zion church or the numerous gaps through the ridgelines, including Gregory Gap and Sherfield Gap. The geography reveals a complex network of creeks and mountains, including Blount Mountain and Lookout Mountain, that shaped the early settlement patterns of Marshall and Etowah counties.