1970 Map of Loxahatchee SW

About this map

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge occupies the eastern half of this 1970 orthophotomosaic, showcasing the sharp contrast between preserved wetlands and industrial agriculture in Palm Beach County. The western portion is dominated by a rigid grid of fields and water management infrastructure, where numerous Pumps and drainage features regulate the landscape. The Hillsboro Canal cuts diagonally through the southwest corner, while the L-7 Canal serves as the straight-line boundary between the cultivated land and the expansive Conservation Area No 1. This map reveals the era's sophisticated engineering of the Everglades, capturing the precise moment when large-scale hydraulic control enabled intensive farming right up to the edge of the protected wilderness.