1949 Map of Mc Dowell

About this map

The Tombigbee River snakes through the landscape, defining the boundaries between Greene, Sumter, and Marengo Counties. This 1940s topography shows a rural network of small agricultural settlements and timber lands, notably around the crossroads of Belmont and the river landing at McDowell. The presence of numerous institutions like Oak Grove Sch, Bucks Chapel Sch, and St Michael Sch suggests a community structure oriented around localized schoolhouses and churches. Further inland, the Southern railroad line cuts through the southern portion of the quadrangle near Hall Creek, providing a vital connection for the movement of goods away from the river's edge. This era captures the area just as aerial photography began to modernize mapping, yet many traditional river features like the McDowell Ferry and the dramatic Twelvemile Bend remained central to local geography.