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1950 Map of Madison

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Madison
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

Madison stands as a rail-centered hub in the mid-century, bisected by the Southern railroad line while the surrounding countryside transitions toward heavy federal use. To the east and south, the Huntsville Arsenal Boundary demarcates a massive military footprint, containing the Huntsville Arsenal Headquarters and Huntsville Arsenal Airfield. This military landscape stands in sharp contrast to the established rural character found at Rainbow Mountain and the small communities like Westlawn and Brandontown.

Genealogists can find numerous family-linked sites and rural landmarks, such as Royal Cem, Payne Chapel, and the Union Hill School. The southern edge of the map is defined by the Wheeler Reservoir and the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, where the backwaters of the Tennessee River meet the drainage of Indian Creek and McDonald Creek. The terrain is characterized by prominent heights like Madkin Mountain, which overlooks the expanding arsenal facilities.