1984 Map of Bay Lake

About this map

The Withlacoochee State Forest dominates this Central Florida landscape, where the border between Sumter and Lake Counties meets amidst a complex network of wetlands. In the early 1960s, the rural character of this region was defined by its water features and forestry access, anchored by the community at Bay Lake and the Bay Lake Church. The terrain is marked by seasonal water bodies and marshes like Gator Hole, Mill Pond, and the Devils Creek Swamp. Industrial and transport infrastructure is represented by the Seaboard Air Line railroad corridor, which cuts across the marshy lowlands of the Bay of Slough. A grid of managed forestry routes, including North Grade Road and Center Grade Road, provides a glimpse into the mid-century timber and land management patterns of the Florida interior.