1954 Map of Clara

About this map

The Steinhatchee River cuts a prominent path through this 1954 landscape, marking a boundary where Taylor, Lafayette, and Dixie counties meet. This region in the mid-1950s was defined by its water-rich geography, featuring numerous named drainages like Kettle Creek, Mud Creek, and the curiously named Rocky Boggy Creek. The small settlements of Clara and Tennille serve as the primary human outposts, positioned along the industrial artery of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. Local geography is further distinguished by natural features such as Steinhatchee Spring and Iron Spring, which hint at the hydrological character of the Florida Big Bend. A Gaging Station on the river indicates the importance of monitoring these waterways in an era when logging and transport relied heavily on the seasonal flow of the river system.