1959 Map of Lake Nellie

About this map

The expansive wetlands of the Green Swamp dominate this central Florida landscape, revealing a complex network of hydrologic features as they appeared in the late 1950s. The map captures a transition between the elevated lake region to the north and the dense, low-lying swamp to the south. Significant water bodies such as Lake Nellie, Lake Glona, and Pine Island Lake are centered among groves and ridges, while the southern half of the sheet dissolves into the Alligator Lake Swamp and Bay Swamp. Evidence of early resource management and local infrastructure is visible through the presence of a Lookout Tower and a Gaging Sta along the water's edge. This topographic record preserves the original names of numerous small islands and ponds, like Black Jack Island and Leggy Pond, many of which sit in areas that remain critical for Florida's groundwater recharge.