1928 Map of Samantha

About this map

The Sipsey River and the North River define the winding, creek-cut landscape of Tuscaloosa County in the mid-1920s. This survey, conducted by J.M. Rawls and W.C. Thompson, reveals a rural network deeply rooted in localized community hubs like Samantha and Bell City. The historical Byler Road traverses the terrain, a critical overland route connecting these upland settlements. In the southwestern corner, the Mobile and Ohio RR serves the station at Buhl, providing a vital rail link for the local economy. Throughout the quadrangle, a dense concentration of small churches and schools, such as Phillips Chapel, Haygood Chapel, and Bethabara Sch, illustrates the era's social geography where most daily life happened within a few miles of one's front door. Researchers will also find family-named landmarks like Longs Store and Skelton Bend that mark the legacy of early residents.