1916 Map of Rogersville

About this map

The Tennessee River flows through the heart of this landscape before the completion of major dams altered its course, revealing the complex navigation system of Muscle Shoals and early infrastructure like Lock No 3. At this time, the river is a collection of named landforms such as Cox Island and Tick Island, with Lambs Ferry serving as a vital crossing point between Lauderdale and Colbert counties. The interior terrain is defined by a dense network of country schools and churches that anchored rural life, including the Olive Hill School and Antioch Church. Local industry was tied directly to the waterways, evidenced by Mitchells Mill on Blue Water Creek and Ingram Mill on Second Creek. The settlement patterns around Lexington and Rogersville reflect a pre-inundation geography, where small communities like Thorntontown and Houstontown thrived alongside the river’s original banks.