1954 Map of McHenry

About this map

McHenry and Saucier anchor this mid-century view of the central Mississippi piney woods, where the Illinois Central railroad dictates the pattern of settlement through the De Soto National Forest. The landscape is a network of small family-named cemeteries and rural institutions, such as Yellow Fever Cem and Wedgeworth Cem, which reflect the localized history of Harrison and Stone counties. The topography is defined by the winding Biloxi River and numerous tributaries like Rattlesnake Branch, supporting a mix of conservation and resource management visible at the Experimental Forest Headquarters and the Fish Hatchery. Small rural schools like Advance Sch and churches such as Sunflower Ch illustrate the community structure in the era before widespread consolidation, while features like the Gundlach Lookout Tower speak to the region's active fire observation network.