1952 Map of Hesperides

About this map

The settlement of Hesperides and the surrounding lake country of Polk County are defined by a complex hydrology of marshes and interconnecting waterways. This 1952 survey shows the Seaboard Coast Line railroad threading through the southern landscape, connecting the citrus-growing region of Alcoma to the wider world. The interior is a mosaic of water bodies, from the large expanse of Lake Rosalie to smaller pools like Saddlebag Lake and Lake Aurora. Along the banks of the Kissimmee River and Lake Hatchineha, developments such as Camp Mack indicate the early 20th-century character of these Florida shorelines. Local landmarks like the St Anne Shrine and Beulah Ch reflect the community life established amidst the wet prairies and islands like Buster Island. The map provides a clear look at the drainage patterns of Catfish Creek and Rosalie Creek before more modern modifications to the regional watershed occurred.