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2024 Map of Salem

Name: 2024 Topographic Map of Salem
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2024
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2024

About this map

The Elk River cuts a wide, meandering path across the Limestone County landscape, defining the character of this northern Alabama region near the Tennessee border. The river's historical importance as a transit corridor is evidenced by the presence of Grigsby Ferry and Easter Ferry, marking traditional crossing points before modern bridge infrastructure. The terrain is marked by numerous family-named hollows and ridges, such as Gardner Hollow, Gaston Hollow, and Cabbage Ridge, which illustrate the localized settlement patterns of the area.

Small rural communities like Salem, Leggtown, and Gourdsville serve as anchor points for the surrounding agricultural and timber lands. Genealogists will find a wealth of data in the numerous small burial grounds scattered throughout the quadrangle, including the McKinney Cem Number 1, Hancock-Grigory Cem, and New Salem Cem. The landscape remains largely defined by its natural hydrology, with Sulphur Creek, Sugar Creek, and Witty Creek feeding into the main river system amidst landmarks like Chickasaw Shoals and the distinctive Winding Stair Bluff.