Muscle Shoals is an area of the Tennessee River Valley in northwestern Alabama. It is commonly referred to as the Shoals. The area was named for a section of shallow water and rocky rapids that presented a major obstacle to river navigation during the 1800’s. The Shoals lie east of the cities of Florence, Tuscumbia, and Sheffield. The town of Muscle Shoals was developed at the west end of the rapids and became a city in 1923.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, created by Congress in 1933, controls two dams at Muscle Shoals (see Tennessee Valley Authority ). Wilson lies at the west end of the area, and Wheeler, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) east. The dams raise the water level above the rapids and form lakes that hold rainfall. Both dams provide hydroelectric power. Wheeler also controls floods.
Two nitrate plants were completed at Muscle Shoals in 1918, under the National Defense Act of 1916. They were built because it was feared World War I might cut off nitrate from Chile.
