1940 Map of Mobile

About this map

Mobile's industrial waterfront and educational core are captured in detail just before the mid-century expansion. The map illustrates a city defined by its relationship with the water, where the Mobile River and Mobile Bay meet a complex network of rail lines and state docks. Prominent institutional landmarks such as Visitation Convent, Providence Hospital, and Murphy High School anchor the residential neighborhoods, while the extensive grid of Magnolia Cemetery stands as a significant historical record of the city's genealogy. To the north and west, the map details established satellite communities like Prichard and Whistler, as well as the transition into tidal marshlands along the Chickasaw Creek. The eastern riverfront is dominated by Blakeley Island and Pinto Island, highlighting the strategic maritime position that shaped the region's economy and defense, marked by coastal installations like the Quarantine Sta and Battery Gladden.