1958 Map of La Belle

About this map

The Caloosahatchee River anchors the southern portion of this landscape, serving as a vital hydrologic corridor along the border of Glades and Hendry Counties. The settlement of La Belle is positioned on the southern bank, where a gridded street pattern meets the river's edge and the adjacent Caloosahatchee Canal. North of the river, the terrain transitions into a complex network of wetlands and drainage features, including the Okaloacoochee Slough and Chaparral Slough. Remote outposts such as Silver Lake Ranch and the small locality of Muce are connected by a sparse network of roads that navigate around the winding paths of Pollywog Creek and Bee Branch. The presence of a Fish Hatchery near the center of the sheet indicates specialized land use in this watery interior, where the natural drainage of the East Prong Pollywog Creek reflects the typical Florida flatwoods environment before extensive modern development.