1971 Map of Toomsuba

About this map

Toomsuba and the surrounding timberlands of Lauderdale County are defined by a complex intersection of transportation and small-town infrastructure in the early 1970s. The landscape is crisscrossed by the Southern and Gulf Mobile and Ohio railroads, which served as the lifeblood for settlements like Lockhart and Russell. A notable feature of this era is the presence of the Naval Auxiliary Air Station near the northern edge, reflecting the region's mid-century military importance. Genealogists will find a high density of country churches and family burial grounds, such as Good Hope Church and the Miller Cemetery. The map also captures the local economy through numerous sandpits and the Fish Hatchery located near Bailey Lake. From the Akin Airport to the various branches of Toomsuba Creek, the map provides a look at the rural development before the expansion of modern highways altered these historic corridors.