1973 Map of Laurel Hill

About this map

The Louisville and Nashville railroad corridor anchors this survey of northern Okaloosa County, passing through the town of Laurel Hill and the smaller settlements of Svea and Okaloo. The landscape is defined by a dense network of water features, including named bays and heads like Watson Bay, Ward Bay, and Black Gum Head, which signal the unique hydrology of the Florida-Alabama borderlands. Genealogists will find significant value in the distribution of community landmarks, from Rock Hill Cem in the south to a cluster of rural houses of worship including Mt Zion Ch, Travelers Rest Ch, and Mt Lucas Ch. The map illustrates a transitional period in the early 1970s where traditional land use, evidenced by Campbells Mill Creek, met modern infrastructure like the prominent Lookout Tower.