1968 Map of Clarksdale

About this map

The Sunflower River and the Illinois Central Railroad corridor define the landscape of the Mississippi Delta in the late 1960s. At the center of the sheet, Clarksdale serves as a regional hub, featuring the Coahoma High Sch, the County Hospital, and a Radio Tower (WKDL). The map reveals an intricate network of rural life tied to the land, with numerous country churches and cemeteries such as Morning Glory Ch, Beautiful Zion Ch, and the White Stone Cem Ch punctuating the vast agricultural fields. Water management is a primary theme, as seen in the levees, flood control works, and a complex system of bayous and sloughs like Harris Bayou and Overcup Slough. Historical geography is further noted through the preservation of an Indian Mound and local education centers like the Sherard Sch and Africa-Roundaway Sch.