1957 Map of Chunky

About this map

The Chunky River carves through the landscape of east-central Mississippi, anchoring a network of small communities and rural congregations along the border of Newton and Lauderdale counties. During the mid-1950s, this area was defined by the intersection of major rail lines including the Illinois Central, Southern, and Gulf Mobile and Ohio railroads. These tracks connect timber and agricultural hubs like Chunky and Meehan with more isolated settlements such as Duffee and Suqualena. The map reveals a dense social infrastructure of country churches and schools, from the Pine Forest Academy to several family-named landmarks like Walker Lake and Arby Lake. Notable landmarks such as the Radio Range Station and the Tillman Lookout Tower stand out against the terrain of Tunnel Hill, while numerous small cemeteries, including Mt Carmel Cem and Hambrick Cem, provide valuable points for genealogical research across this mid-century landscape.