1939 Map of Farrell

About this map

Friar Point sits at the center of this 1930s landscape, positioned near a dramatic bend in the Mississippi River. The map captures the delta just as major river engineering was reshaping its course, specifically at the Montezuma Bend Cut-Off and Old Town Bend Horseshoe Cut-Off 1848. These alterations reflect the intensive flood control efforts of the era, which protected the dense network of agricultural settlements and plantations such as Preston Place, Elkhorn Place, and King & Andersons. The river's influence is evident in the numerous oxbows and brakes, including Moon Lake and Alligator Lake. Transportation and community life were anchored by the Illinois Central and Memphis & Vicksburg railroads, which connected rural centers like Farrell and Stovall. The map is particularly rich in genealogical detail, noting dozens of country schools and churches like Little Zion Ch and Paradise Ch & Sch that served these dispersed farming communities.