1953 Map of Memphis

About this map

The Mississippi River valley and the rising elevations of Crowleys Ridge define this mid-century landscape where Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi meet. Centered on the sprawling urban center of Memphis and its cross-river neighbor West Memphis, the map reveals a region defined by extensive river systems and drainage projects, including the St. Francis River and Cache River. On the Arkansas side, the rise of Jonesboro and the river port of Newport anchor the agricultural plains, while the eastern edge of the Ozark Mountains begins to emerge in the northwest near Batesville.