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1984 Map of Huntsville

Name: 1984 Topographic Map of Huntsville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1988
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1988

About this map

The Tennessee River snakes across this northern Alabama landscape, anchoring a region of rapid aerospace and agricultural development during the 1980s. Huntsville dominates the center of the map, flanked by the sprawling grounds of the Redstone Arsenal and the prominent heights of Monte Sano Mountain. This era captures the city's growth alongside its academic and scientific hubs, including Alabama A & M University. To the east, the terrain shifts dramatically as the Cumberland Plateau rises, deeply dissected by the Paint Rock River valley.

Industrial and natural corridors converge at Decatur, where the river widens into Wheeler Lake near the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge. The map details a complex transport network of Southern and L & N railroad lines that supported the regional economy. Beyond the urban centers, smaller settlements like New Hope, Gurley, and Hazel Green provide a clear view of the rural landscape before modern suburban expansion fully transformed the Tennessee Valley.