1959 Map of Gum Lake

About this map

Green Swamp dominates the northern half of this terrain, characterized by a complex network of wetlands and intermittent water bodies. The expansive Lake Lowery anchors the southern portion of the sheet, surrounded by smaller, distinctive basins like Bonnet Lake and Gum Lake. While much of the area remains undeveloped in the late 1950s, the emergence of Holiday Manor and the presence of Radio Towers (WGTB) indicate the gradual encroachment of mid-century infrastructure into the Florida interior. A major Pipeline cuts through the swampy northern reaches, while a series of named lakes including Sand Lake, Lost Lake, and Lake St Charles transition into the higher ground toward the east near the Polk County line. The map captures a moment before the rapid residential expansion of the following decades, showing a landscape still primarily defined by its natural hydrology.