1959 Map of Helena

About this map

Helena and the industrial corridors of New Hope Valley define the landscape of northern Shelby County during the late 1950s. The area is anchored by the crossing of the Atlantic Coast Line and the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, supporting a local economy built on lime and coal. Numerous quarries and strip mines are etched into the ridges, particularly near Keystone and Acton. The map reveals a transition from industrial activity to nature at Oak Mountain State Park, where Peavine Falls and Johnson Creek drain the slopes of Double Oak Mountain. Notable local landmarks include the Helena Airstrip, Indian Spring School, and several rural burial grounds such as Cumberland Cemetery and Oldham Cemetery. This survey captures these small communities—including Pelham and Alabaster—just as suburban development began to intersect with long-standing mining and rail operations.