1947 Map of Blackwater Sound

About this map

Everglades National Park dominates this coastal landscape, protecting a complex network of shallow sounds and mangrove-lined keys as they appeared in the late 1940s. The survey reveals the critical transition between Florida Bay and the Atlantic, linked by narrow passages like Jewfish Creek and Long Sound Pass. The topography highlights the emerging footprint of infrastructure on Largo Key, where early development begins to skirt the edges of Lake Surprise and Sexton Cove. This era shows the U.S. Route 1 corridor as it traverses Cross Key, providing the primary terrestrial connection through this subtropical wilderness. Notable natural features include the Cormorant Rookeries in Barnes Sound and the intricate shoreline of Shell Key, illustrating the fragile marine environment before mid-century expansion altered the character of the upper Florida Keys.