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1938 Map of Port Birmingham

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Port Birmingham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

The winding convergence of the Mulberry Fork and the Locust Fork into the Black Warrior River dominates this 1930s landscape along the border of Walker and Jefferson counties. As a critical hub for industry and transport, Port Birmingham sits near the terminal points of the Louisville & Nashville RR and the Southern Ry, illustrating the era's reliance on river-to-rail logistics. The terrain is dense with coal-era settlements and mining camps like Praco, Labuco, and Bessie, connected by a network of historic river crossings including Atwood Ferry and Taylor Ferry.

Family and community life are well-documented through numerous country schools and churches, such as Sylvan Springs Sch and Mt Pisgah Ch. Notable landmarks like Maxine Bridge and Copeland Bend reveal the intricate topography of the river bottoms before modern developments. This survey, compiled from aerial photography by teams led by R.H. Runyan and W.B. Brewer, provides a high-fidelity view of the region's industrial footprint and rural social geography during the interwar years.