2020 Map of Rodentown

About this map

Big Wills Valley and the Tennessee Valley Divide define the complex topography of this Northeast Alabama region where Marshall, DeKalb, and Etowah counties converge. The landscape is marked by a series of prominent gaps and hollows, such as Horton Gap, John Gap, and Neighbors Hollow, which have historically dictated the placement of mountain roads and small settlements. Local genealogy is well-represented through numerous burial grounds including Belchers Chapel Church Cem, Whitesboro Cem, and Freedom Church Cem, alongside the Smith Institute. Small communities like Arona, Whitesboro, and Liberty are connected by a network of county roads that navigate the ridges of Big Ridge and the winding course of Short Creek. This modern survey documents the persistent rural character and the family-named landmarks that have anchored these ridge-and-valley communities for generations.