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1943 Map of Odessa

Name: 1943 Topographic Map of Odessa
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Odessa and the surrounding pine flatlands of the Florida Gulf Coast sat at a critical junction of the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line Railway during the early 1940s. This survey, compiled from aerial photography, details a landscape defined by an intricate network of freshwater lakes and the winding course of the Anclote River. Small communities like Gulf Pine and Lake Fern appear as clusters of activity along the rail corridors, while the southern portion of the map is dominated by the sprawling Keystone Lake and smaller bodies such as Crescent Lake and Lake Hiawatha.

The local geography is further characterized by the marshy banks of Brooker Creek and significant landmarks like Camp Mawian (YMCA) on the shores of Mound Lake. The presence of a Water Tank at the rail intersection in Odessa highlights the town's importance as a steam-era transit point. This map captures the transition from a timber and citrus-focused economy toward the recreational and residential character of the mid-20th century.