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1962 Map of Hales Point

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Hales Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1962
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1962

About this map

The Mississippi River creates a dynamic western boundary for Tennessee in this early 1960s survey, where the river's shifting path is marked by historic interventions like the Needham Cutoff (1821). This landscape is defined by its complex hydrology, featuring the confluence of the Obion River and the Forked Deer River amidst a network of oxbows and backwaters such as Chisholm Lake and Open Lake. These waterways shaped the local economy and settlement patterns, leaving behind numerous islands like Tomato Island No 25 and Island No 21.

Genealogists will find a dense concentration of community hubs, including Ripley, Edith, and Chic. The map identifies many local landmarks that served rural residents, such as Hales Point Ch, St Luke Cem, and dual-purpose structures like Matthews Ch & Sch. These sites, along with the Moss Island Waterfowl Management Area, illustrate the balance between agricultural life, religious community, and the managed river environment during this era.