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1954 Map of Horseshoe Lake

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Horseshoe Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The Mississippi River meanders through this mid-century survey, defining the complex borderlands where Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee converge. The landscape is characterized by its alluvial history, featuring prominent oxbows like Horseshoe Lake and Council Lake that suggest the river's ancient paths. This fertile delta region was a powerhouse of agricultural production, evidenced by the numerous named properties such as Belle Meade Plantation, Green River Plantation, and Tucker Plantation.

Settlement patterns follow the high ground and the corridor of the Missouri Pacific RR, with the town of Hughes serving as a local hub. The map provides significant detail for genealogists, documenting a dense network of community anchors including St. Marys Missionary Ch & Sch, New Mt. Zion Ch & Cem, and the Bethlehem Cem. Along the riverbanks, various revetments and the Beck Floodgate illustrate the ongoing engineering efforts by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to manage the unpredictable delta waters.