Loading map...

1968 Map of Mound Bayou

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Mound Bayou
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1968
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1968

About this map

State Penal Farm occupies a massive footprint in this Mississippi Delta landscape, defining the rural character of the region alongside the winding Big Sunflower River. The survey captures a network of African American settlements and historic institutions, including the town of Mound Bayou with its Mound Bayou School and numerous small country churches like Beautiful Star Ch and Wander Home Ch. The Illinois Central railroad corridor serves as the primary spine for commerce, connecting established agricultural centers such as Merigold, Cleveland, and Drew.

Evidence of early habitation appears at the Indian Mounds near the Sunflower River, while the presence of the Head of Navigation and the Merigold Airport illustrates the evolution of transport. The map is particularly dense with rural community anchors, from Shipmans Chapel to the Goldfield Plantation, providing a comprehensive look at the social and economic geography of Bolivar and Sunflower Counties before modern consolidation.