1939 Map of Blytheville

About this map

Blytheville serves as the industrial and transportation anchor for this Mississippi County landscape during the late 1930s. The region is defined by a dense network of drainage canals, such as Ditch No 25 and Ditch No 17, which reclaimed the fertile Delta lowlands for agriculture and settlement. The St Louis San Francisco RR and the Jonesboro Lake City and Eastern rail lines intersect here, facilitating the movement of goods to and from riverside points like Barfield and Ashport. Along the Mississippi River, the map captures complex river features including Barfield Bend and Island No 25, which shaped the border with Tennessee. Rural life is reflected in the numerous country schools and churches, including Cards Chapel & Cem and Union Grove Ch, while smaller communities like Burdette and Luxora highlight the established social geography of the era.