One of the battles during the building of the Mercedes plant in Tuscaloosa County was over who would supply the factory with water and how. Although the facility is located much closer to the incorporated community of Vance than to the city of Tuscaloosa, T-town officials annexed a strip of land out to the plant and ran water and sewer lines. So, when you are travelling down Interstate 20/59 from Birmingham towards Meridian, the mileage signs say you still have several miles to go to get to Tuscaloosa, but around the Mercedes Drive exit is a sign proclaiming this to be Tuscaloosa's City Limits.
In the above photo, taken in mid-February 2003, one of the city's water towers stands on a hill off to the right of center above the visitor center. This structure is visible from I-20/59 headed into the Bessemer/ Birmingham area and on US 11 as one drives north. |
