1958 Map of La Belle

About this map

La Belle sits at the southern bend of the Caloosahatchee River, serving as a vital inland hub where the borders of Glades and Hendry counties meet. The landscape north of the river is defined by a complex drainage system of sloughs and creeks, including the winding Pollywog Creek and Bee Branch. This 1958 survey, with updates from 1973, reveals a transition from natural wetlands to managed land use, evidenced by the established Silver Lake Ranch in the northwest and a central Fish Hatchery. The settlement of Muce appears along the western edge, while the south-eastern portion of the quadrangle is marked by the presence of Okaloacoochee Br. The map illustrates the early infrastructure of this Floridian river town before significant late-century development, capturing the original survey lines and waterway patterns that shaped the region.