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1977 Map of Hales Point

Name: 1977 Topographic Map of Hales Point
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Mississippi River dominates this mid-1970s landscape, illustrating the intricate relationship between the river's historic shifts and the tri-state border region of Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri. This area is characterized by massive river engineering and natural transitions, notably at the Needham Cut-Off (1821) and Wrights Point. The river’s old channels remain as sprawling oxbow lakes and wetlands, such as Open Lake, Chisholm Lake, and Swan Lake.

Settlement patterns follow the high ground and the reach of the Illinois Central Gulf railroad through Ripley. The map serves as a detailed record for genealogists and local historians, identifying numerous small community centers like Ashport, Chic, and Lightfoot. Religious and educational life is anchored by landmarks such as Marys Chapel, St Matthews Ch, and Arp Sch. The extensive Moss Island State Wildlife Management Area and Anderson-Tully State Wildlife Management Area preserve the river bottomlands that once defined the river-and-rail economy of Lauderdale County.