1975 Map of Mc Gehee NW

About this map

Bayou Bartholomew snakes in dramatic, tight oxbow loops across this Delta landscape, creating a distinctive hydrological pattern that defines the local geography. This 1975 orthophotograph, produced by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Arkansas Geological Commission, reveals the intensive agricultural development of Desha County. Large, rectangular fields press against the winding banks of the bayou, showing how the land has been optimized for farming while following the natural contours of the ancient watercourse. The settlement of Tillar sits at a crossroads in the northern section, while the northern edge of Mc Gehee begins to appear in the southeast. For researchers, this aerial perspective provides an unfiltered look at the transportation corridors and field boundaries as they existed in the mid-1970s, before modern expansion altered the rural layout.