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2020 Map of Halfmile Shoals

Name: 2020 Topographic Map of Halfmile Shoals
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2020
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2020

About this map

Woodstock and West Blocton anchor this survey of the northern Alabama hill country, where the borders of Bibb, Tuscaloosa, Shelby, and Jefferson counties converge. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the Cahaba River, which features notable river crossings and rapids such as Halfmile Shoals and Lilly Shoals. The rugged terrain of Sand Mtn, Shades Mtn, and Missionary Ridge dictated the placement of early settlements and roads, with smaller communities like Belle Ellen, Marvel, and Hebron appearing in the valleys.

Industrial and recreational activity is evident through an extensive network of named paths, including the Furnace Quarry Trail, Iron Works Loop, and The Dam Trail, reflecting the area's history of resource extraction and local utility. Genealogists will find a high density of rural burial grounds, such as Hickman Chapel Cem, Higganbotham Cem, and McKinney Cem, many situated near small watercourses like Shades Creek and Cane Cr.