1956 Map of Duette

About this map

Duette stands as the primary settlement in this mid-century Florida interior, marking a landscape where agricultural drainage and natural hydrology meet. The western portion of the map is defined by the North Fork Manatee River, which snakes through low-lying terrain characterized by numerous small ponds and depressions. To the east, the drainage of Horse Creek and its tributary, West Fork Horse Creek, create a distinct corridor through the flatlands. This 1956 survey, compiled from 1951 aerial photography, documents the region before significant modern development, showing the straddling of the Manatee Co Hardee Co boundary. The land use appears focused on the higher, drier ground between the extensive wetland networks, with a simple road system connecting the scattered farmsteads and rural homesites of the era.