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1956 Map of Blytheville

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Blytheville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Mississippi River valley and the high ground of West Tennessee define this mid-century landscape, anchored by the burgeoning city of Memphis and the industrial hub of Jackson. This period reflects the significant military presence in the region, dominated by the sprawling Blytheville Air Force Base near the Arkansas-Missouri border and the Milan Arsenal to the east. Transportation networks are highly developed, featuring a dense grid of major rail lines including the Illinois Central RR and the Louisville and Nashville RR, which connect river towns like Osceola and Ripley to inland centers.

Conservation and history are preserved in large tracts such as the Hatchie National Wildlife Refuge and the Shiloh National Military Park on the banks of the Tennessee River. Smaller agricultural settlements like Bolivar, Somerville, and Alamo dot the landscape, while the Natchez Trace cuts through the eastern hills, marking an era where traditional river-and-rail commerce began to integrate with modern defense infrastructure.