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1949 Map of Bradley Junction

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Bradley Junction
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1987
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1987

About this map

Bradley Junction serves as the focal point for this industrial landscape, where the phosphate mining industry transformed the terrain of Polk County. The map documents an extensive network of Strip Mine operations and industrial sites, including a large Phosphate Plant and the Agricola Sta rail terminal. While the extraction sites dominate the topography, the survival of community markers like Mt Olive Cem and Old Elam Ch indicates the persistence of local settlements amidst the evolving land use.

Water management is central to this area's geography, characterized by the North Prong Alafia River and the broad reaches of Hookers Prairie. As mining progressed, significant portions of the land were designated as Reclaimed, reflecting the environmental transitions of the mid-20th century. Smaller company towns and residential pockets such as Pebbledale, Brewster, and Pierce are clearly mapped, providing a detailed look at the social and economic structure of the Florida bone valley during this era.