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1939 Map of Lamont

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Lamont
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

Arkansas City and the winding meanders of the Mississippi River dominate this landscape during a period of significant hydraulic engineering. The map documents the state of the river shortly after major interventions, notably the Caulk Cut-Off 1937 and Ashbrook Cut-Off 1935, which were designed to straighten the channel and manage flood risk. These man-made alterations bypassed traditional loops like Cypress Bend and Georgetown Bend, fundamentally changing the geography of Desha County and Bolivar County.

Away from the riverbanks, the economy of the Delta is evident in the rail lines of the Yazoo and Mississippi Valley and small agricultural hubs like Benoit, Scott, and Lamont. Local social life is anchored by landmarks such as the Morning Star Ch & Sch and Mt Olive Ch. Numerous steamboat landings, including Monterey Ldg and Bolivar Ldg, mark the old river route, serving as reminders of an era before the cut-offs reconfigured the water's edge.