1958 Map of Belle Meade NE

About this map

Big Corkscrew Island and Curry Island dominate this topographic landscape in Collier County, illustrating the intricate hydrology of the western Everglades during the mid-20th century. The map represents a environment of wetlands and pine islands before the era of widespread development, with only minimal human incursions such as a singular Camp shown in the northern reaches. A significant infrastructure shift is documented by the inclusion of the Everglades Parkway (Alligator Alley), a critical east-west corridor that transformed access across the Florida peninsula. The presence of Stumpy Strand and various unnamed sloughs and marshlands highlights the natural drainage patterns that defined this region. Later revisions from the 1970s provide evidence of early land-clearing efforts and the expansion of drainage networks, marking the beginning of the area's transition from an isolated wilderness into a more managed landscape.