1948 Map of Mc Dowell

About this map

The Tombigbee River forms a winding natural boundary for Sumter and Greene counties, punctuated by the dramatic horseshoe of Twelvemile Bend and the expanding waters of Demopolis Lake. This landscape, documented through surveys in the late 1940s, reveals a community organized around rural schoolhouses and churches. Small settlements like Belmont and McDowell serve as anchors in an area defined by its water access, from the old McDowell Ferry crossing to the riverside terrain of the Demopolis Waterfowl Management Area. Local history is preserved in the numerous family and community landmarks scattered across the hills, including Palestine Cem, Houpt Cem, and Taylor Cem. The presence of the Southern railroad line and various schools like Oak Grove Sch and St Michael Sch indicates a once-active corridor of commerce and education centered near the river's edge.