1953 Map of Meridian

About this map

The city of Meridian anchors this mid-century look at East Central Mississippi and Western Alabama, serving as a vital transportation hub where the Meridian & Bigbee Railroad and the Southern Railway converge. The landscape is defined by the extensive Bienville National Forest and the Choctaw Indian Reservation, illustrating the preservation of large timber tracts and indigenous lands alongside growing post-war municipalities. From the industrial activity at Electric Mills to the recreational development of Roosevelt State Park and Clarkco State Park, the map documents a region balanced between rural agricultural heritage and emerging modernization. A dense network of waterways, including the Pearl River and Chickasawhay River, provides the historical framework for the area's development, while the expansion of routes like U.S. Highway 80 marks the shift toward increased automotive connectivity between Philadelphia, Forest, and the Alabama state line.