1954 Map of Oakland

About this map

Enid Lake dominates the central landscape of this North Mississippi survey, representing a significant post-war hydraulic transformation of the Yocona River valley. The Enid Dam at the western edge of the reservoir holds back waters that submerged portions of the river plain, though the surrounding hills remain dotted with small rural communities and institutions. To the north and south, the Illinois Central railroad corridor anchors the primary settlements of Courtland, Pope, and Oakland, tracing a historic transportation spine through the region. This 1954 mapping period captures the rural social infrastructure of the day, including Hubbard Chapel Sch and Oliver Ray Sch & Ch. The map is particularly rich in genealogical data, preserving the locations of numerous family-named landmarks and country churches such as Old Bynum Cem, Philadelphia Ch, and the Persimmon Hill Sch & Cem, which offer a detailed look at the cultural footprint of Yalobusha County before modern consolidation.