1909 Map of Millikens Bend

About this map

Mississippi River meanders define this section of Madison Parish, where the complex hydrology of the alluvial valley is captured in minute detail. The 1909 landscape is dominated by a series of significant agricultural estates including Herman Plantation, Glen Mary Plantation, and Dal Keith Plantation. These holdings are situated among a labyrinth of oxbows and backwaters like Sunflower Lake, Dead John Lake, and Horseshoe Lake. The map illustrates the precarious nature of settlement near the levee, showing the namesake Millikens Bend and the commerce hub at Hews Store. Further south, the V. S. and P. R. R. cuts across the wetlands toward Barnes, providing a rail link through the bottomlands. Religious life is well-documented through several landmarks, from Mt. Pisgah Church in the northwest to St. Pauls Church near the riverbank at Duck Port, offering a clear view of the parish's social geography before modern river control changed the terrain.