1948 Map of Madison

About this map

The Huntsville Arsenal Boundary dominates the eastern and southern portions of this landscape, reflecting a massive shift in land use during the mid-twentieth century. While the town of Madison sits along the Southern Railway in the west, much of the surrounding area is defined by military operations and conservation. The Huntsville Arsenal Airfield and Huntsville Arsenal Headquarters are positioned near the center of the sheet, surrounded by older landmarks like Rainbow Mountain and Madkin Mountain. In the south, the Wheeler Reservoir and the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge mark the flooded lowlands created by the Tennessee Valley Authority. This transition from a traditional rail-oriented settlement at Madison to a landscape of federal military and environmental management is clearly visible through the network of country churches like Fletcher Chapel and rural schools such as the Lincoln Sch that remain scattered throughout the quadrangle.