1958 Map of La Belle NW

About this map

Fisheating Creek meanders through this portion of the Florida interior, defining a landscape of complex drainage and seasonal wetlands. The survey, updated with 1973 photoview revisions, highlights a transition in land use within Glades County, where the expansive Rainey Slough and Chaparral Slough dominate the natural topography. These water systems illustrate the traditional sheet-flow drainage patterns of the region before significant modern alteration. While the area is primarily defined by its hydrology, including the northern reach of Bee Branch, the map also captures early grid-pattern developments and agricultural parcels emerging in the mid-20th century. This document provides a foundational look at the Glades County wilderness during a period of increasing human imprint on the native Florida landscape.