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1984 Map of Clarksdale

Name: 1984 Topographic Map of Clarksdale
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Mississippi River defines the western edge of this mid-1980s landscape, winding through a complex system of islands and towheads including Island No 63 and Robson Towhead. This region of the Mississippi Delta is a intricate network of drainage and transport, where the Illinois Central Gulf railroad connects agricultural hubs like Clarksdale and Tutwiler. The geography is shaped by the constant presence of water, from the expansive Moon Lake and Horseshoe Lake to the engineered Tallahatchie Floodway and the natural meanders of the Sunflower River.

Smaller settlements such as Friars Point, Lula, and Sherard are scattered along the levee systems and rail lines, illustrating the rural settlement patterns of Coahoma and Quitman counties. The map captures the Delta at a time when traditional river landings like Jackson Point coexisted with modern infrastructure like US Highway 61, showing how the land was managed for both flood control and commerce through features like the Hushpuckena River and Cassidy Bayou.