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2010 Map of Salem

Name: 2010 Topographic Map of Salem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2010
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2010

About this map

The Elk River carves a winding path through this borderland between Tennessee and Alabama, defining a landscape of high bluffs and river islands. Along its banks, the Elk River Fish Hatchery and Round Bottom reflect the aquatic character of the region, while landmarks like Chickasaw Shoals and Winding Stair Bluff show the river's geological impact. The terrain is deeply incised by numerous drainages such as Shoal Creek and Sugar Creek, creating a network of hollows that served as sites for many early settlements and family homesteads.

Genealogists will find a wealth of burial sites scattered across the ridges and valleys, including Salem Cemetery, Grigsby Cemetery, and Hightower Cemetery. These sites, along with family-named features like Cabbage Ridge and Patterson Hollow, provide a window into the rural community structure during this era. Long-standing local transport routes, such as Grigsby Ferry Rd and Easter Ferry Rd, hint at the historic river crossings that once linked these isolated farmsteads before modern bridges like the Buck Island Bridge were established.