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1955 Map of Jackson

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Jackson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

The Mississippi River carves a complex, winding boundary between Louisiana and Mississippi, anchoring a landscape defined by its alluvial floodplains and sprawling river-and-rail economies. In the mid-1950s, the state capital of Jackson serves as a major transportation hub, where the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad and the Illinois Central Railroad converge amidst expanding urban reaches like Clinton and Ridgeland. To the west, the deeply etched bluffs at Vicksburg overlook the river's massive meanders, including the prominent Eagle Lake.

This era shows the region just before significant modern changes, with the Ross Barnett Reservoir appearing in its early footprint. Inland, the dense timber of the Delta National Forest and Bienville National Forest contrasts with the network of bayous and rivers like the Big Sunflower River and Boeuf River. Settled patterns are clear in established parishes and counties, from the river towns of Lake Providence and St. Joseph to the agricultural centers of Yazoo City and Winnsboro.