1980 Map of Gulf Shores

About this map

Gulf State Park dominates the southeastern coastline of this 1980 survey, where the barrier landscape is defined by Little Lagoon and a series of freshwater lakes like Shelby Is. This period shows the coastal community of Gulf Shores during a transition of significant infrastructure development. The Intracoastal Waterway cuts a straight path through the salt marshes, facilitating maritime commerce and recreation between Oyster Bay and the surrounding bayous. To the north, the settlement of Bon Secour maintains its connection to the water via the Bon Secour River and Swift Landing. The presence of numerous extractive sites, such as various claypits and sandpits, alongside the newly established Jack Edwards Airport, indicates a landscape being actively reshaped. Local history is anchored by several rural landmarks, including Swift Sch and several country churches like Pleasant View Ch and Friendship Ch.