 The Army Corps of Engineers started construction of the Harlan County Dam on August 1, 1946, and completed work in November 1952.The lake thus created, Harlan County Reservoir, became one of Alma's top recreation destinations.During World War II, Alma hosted a small number of captured German prisoners of war who were interned at Camp Atlanta in neighboring Phelps County and who were employed for farm work and other tasks in Harlan County.