1951 Map of New Madrid SE

About this map

The Mississippi River creates a dramatic sweeping bend around Kentucky Point in this 1951 study, documenting a complex border region where Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee meet. This unique geography, influenced by the historic 1812 earthquakes, is defined by shifting river channels and isolated pockets of land. The interior of the point is dominated by Watson Lake, a prominent oxbow remnant, and a network of minor roads that trace the low-lying terrain. Along the river channel, navigational aids like the Light and river features such as Madrid Bar and Toneys Towhead demonstrate the ever-changing nature of the riverbank. This map captures the landscape before modern large-scale drainage, showing the delicate relationship between the alluvial bottomlands and the powerful river that continually reshapes them.