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1980 Map of Oak Grove

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Oak Grove
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Valley Creek meanders deeply through this portion of Jefferson and Tuscaloosa Counties, defining a landscape shaped by industrial extraction and rural settlement. During the late 1970s, the region around Oak Grove was characterized by extensive surface mining operations, with numerous Strip Mine sites and a Tailings Pond visible across the terrain. These heavy industrial footprints contrast with established community centers like Toadvine and Betty Hill, where local life centered around institutions such as Mud Creek Ch and Big Creek Ch.

The physical geography is dominated by high ridges like Cely Ann Mountain and sharp river bends such as Sextons Bend at The Narrows. While the Oak Grove Mine represents the subsurface economy, recreational developments like the Leaning Oak Golf Course show the changing land use of the era. Numerous family-named hollows and branches, including Starkey Hollow and Huckleberry Br, provide essential reference points for genealogists tracing local landholdings in this coal-rich corridor.