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1986 Map of Blytheville

Name: 1986 Topographic Map of Blytheville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1991
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1991

About this map

The Mississippi River carves a complex, winding path through the heart of this mid-1980s survey, defining the borderlands where Arkansas, Tennessee, and Missouri meet. Along its western banks, the industrial and agricultural centers of Blytheville and Osceola are prominent, alongside the significant military footprint of the Blytheville Air Force Base. The river's dynamic nature is evidenced by numerous chutes, bars, and towheads, such as Sunrise Towhead and Hatchie Towhead, which create a shifting landscape of islands and backwaters.

Further east in Tennessee, the topography transitions into the expansive wetlands of the Hatchie Bottom and several conservation tracts, including the Anderson-Tully State Wildlife Management Area. The region's transport network is anchored by major rail lines like the Illinois Central Gulf RR and the Louisville & Nashville RR, which supported the movement of goods between river towns and inland settlements like Covington and Ripley. The map also captures specialized land uses, notably the Fort Pillow State Prison Farm situated near the river bluffs.