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1971 Map of Lay Dam

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Lay Dam
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Lay Dam and its associated powerplant dominate the hydro-industrial landscape along the Coosa River on the border of Coosa and Chilton counties. The river is transformed here into the expansive Lay Lake and Mitchell Lake, divided by the dam and dotted with features like Ware Island and the Foshee Islands. Away from the water, the settlement of Jumbo and a network of rural congregations such as Mt Zion Ch and Mt Bethel Ch reflect the area's social fabric in the early 1970s.

The terrain is defined by dramatic elevation shifts, notably at Gap of the Mountain along Chandler Mountain. Numerous drainages like Yellow Leaf Creek and Cane Creek carve through the landscape, supporting several cemeteries and local landmarks like Mims Ferry. This survey captures a moment when traditional river crossings and small-town landmarks remained central to the region's geography despite the large-scale energy infrastructure.