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1958 Map of Selma

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Selma
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Selma sits prominently along a sweeping curve of the Alabama River, serving as a dense urban hub in this late-1950s survey. The city's layout is defined by its educational and civic institutions, including Parrish High Sch, Hudson High Sch, and the Alabama Academy. Beyond the city center, the landscape transitions into a network of outlying communities like Selmont and West Selmont, connected by the Southern and Louisville and Nashville railroads.

Genealogists will find a wealth of local history in the numerous rural landmarks, such as Childers Chapel Cem and Harper Chapel. The map reveals a high density of small-scale educational sites like El Bethel Sch and Mt Zion Sch, which suggest the distributed nature of early 20th-century community life. Natural drainage is managed by a complex system of creeks including Childers Creek and Valley Creek, which feed the river near industrial and recreational markers like the Gaging Station and Bloch Park.