1951 Map of Union Hill

About this map

The borderlands of Alabama and Tennessee are captured here in the years following the expansion of the Tennessee Valley Authority. This landscape is defined by the winding course of Sugar Creek and the southern influence of the Wheeler Reservoir, where the map documents the Wheeler Reservoir Reservation boundary. Rural life in 1951 centers on a dense network of country churches and schools, including Hester Chapel near Lester and Carriger Sch further south. The presence of Ridgway Mill along Dobbins Branch suggests the persistence of local water-powered industry, while the terrain transitions from the elevations of Gray Ridge down toward the Elk River floodplains. Genealogists will find significant value in the documentation of family-named landmarks like McCravy Cem and Todd Cem, and small rural clusters such as Scarce Grease and Mt Rozell.