1958 Map of La Belle

About this map

La Belle sits at the southern edge of this late-1950s survey, straddling the line between Hendry and Glades counties. The settlement is defined by its relationship with the Caloosahatchee River and the adjacent Caloosahatchee Canal, which cut through the low-lying Florida landscape. North of the town center, the terrain is dominated by a complex network of wetlands and drainage patterns, most notably the meandering Pollywog Creek and its East Prong. To the northwest, the Silver Lake Ranch occupies a significant tract of land, while the eastern portion of the sheet shows the broad reach of the Okaloacoochee Slough. The map documents a period before extensive modern development, highlighting the early grid of La Belle and the primary watercourses like Bee Branch and Chaparral Slough that governed land use and transportation in the region.