1952 Map of Gates

About this map

The Illinois Central corridor anchor the agricultural and social landscape of West Tennessee in the early 1950s. Centered on the towns of Halls and Gates, this survey captures a network of small, rural communities connected by the Gulf Central rail line and a dense system of country roads. The topography is defined by the winding paths of Sumrow Creek, Beech Bluff Creek, and Lost Creek, which drain the low-lying terrain across the Lauderdale Co Haywood Co line. Local heritage is concentrated in numerous rural landmarks, including Woodville Sch, Mount Pleasant Sch, and family-named cemeteries such as Dunavant Cem and Anderson Cem. The presence of scattered settlements like Nankipoo, Thurmond, and Flippin illustrates the decentralized settlement pattern characteristic of this era before larger regional consolidation.