1954 Map of Deer Island

About this map

Deer Island stands as a prominent coastal barrier at the entrance to Biloxi Bay, defining the transition between protected waters and the open Mississippi Sound. This topographic study, based on 1950s surveys with 1970 photorevisions, details a maritime landscape where the Harrison and Jackson County line bifurcates the sound. The map traces the vital Intracoastal Waterway south of the island, noting a project depth of 12 feet for this crucial shipping artery. To the east, the shoreline is punctuated by marshy inlets including Grand Bayou and Simmons Bayou, showing the complex estuarine geography of the Gulf Coast before significant modern expansion. The presence of an indefinite boundary in the sound reflects the shifting nature of these coastal waters and the jurisdictional complexities of the mid-20th century.