1934 Map of Searles

About this map

The Black Warrior River dominates this 1934 landscape, winding through the boundary of Jefferson and Tuscaloosa Counties. Along its banks, the river is harnessed by a series of infrastructure projects, including Lock No 16, Lock No 15, and Lock No 14. These locks reflect a period of intensive industrial development in the coal-rich hills of Alabama. The southeastern corner reveals a cluster of mining-related settlements like Brookwood, Searles, and Kellerman, where the terrain is tightly packed with residences, schools, and company towns. In contrast, the northwestern section remains more sparsely settled around Windham Springs, characterized by family-named landmarks like Pattons Mill and small community hubs such as Spencer Hill Sch. This map documents a critical era when the region's economy was transitionally dependent on both river navigation and the Birmingham and Nashville Highway for transport.