1957 Map of Long Island Marsh NW

About this map

Sheep Pen Marsh and the surrounding DeSoto County wetlands dominate this landscape, which transitioned from wild drainage patterns toward institutional land use by the late 1950s. The northern reaches are defined by hydrologic features like Joshua Creek and Honey Run, while the southern expanse is a network of slow-moving waters including Tiger Bay Slough and Slippery Slough. A distinct linear feature, the Old Railroad Grade, cuts diagonally across the center, marking a former industrial or logistical route through the hammocks. This survey includes the footprint of the De Soto Correctional Institution, a significant local landmark situated near Fourmile Island. Family-named sites like Parker Ranch and distinctive natural features such as Turkey Hammock and Sour Orange Hammock provide essential reference points for those tracing the agricultural and ranching history of this humid Florida interior.