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1935 Map of Clarksdale

Name: 1935 Topographic Map of Clarksdale
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1935
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1935

About this map

The Mississippi River and its dense network of meandering waterways dominate this mid-1930s landscape, illustrating the complex hydrology of the Delta. The Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad serves as the primary spine for development, linking agricultural hubs like Clarksdale, Lyon, and Duncan. Away from the main rail lines, the map reveals a rural landscape deeply organized around local centers of faith and education, including several Rosenwald Schools and numerous country churches such as St James Ch and Morning Star Ch.

Infrastructure is tied to the movement of water and cotton, with features like Beverly Davenport Sta and Hopson situated along the rail lines. The intricate system of bayous, including Harris Bayou and Black Bayou, crisscrosses the alluvial plain, punctuated by landings and small settlements like Sherard and Mattson. This survey provides a window into the plantation-era settlement patterns before later industrial consolidation changed the rural Mississippi character.