1944 Map of Old Myakka

About this map

Upper Myakka Lake serves as the focal point for this Southwest Florida landscape, where the Myakka River winds through a complex network of seasonal wetlands and prairie. The map details the early development of Myakka River State Park and the rural settlement at Old Myakka, reflecting an era when large-scale cattle ranching dominated the interior of Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Named operations like Ox Bo Ranch and T C Ranch are scattered across a terrain defined by watery landmarks such as Indian Creek Swamp and Tatum Sawgrass. Transportation is anchored by the Atlantic Coast Line railroad, which cuts through the southern portion of the quadrangle near Utopia. This survey captures the intricate hydrology of the region before modern drainage projects, showing the numerous sloughs like Vanderipe Slough and Gunn Slough that once directed the flow toward the Gulf.