Loading map...

1971 Map of Oma

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Oma
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Pearl River valley in the early 1970s is defined by a dense network of timbered ridges and creek bottoms where the borders of Lawrence, Copiah, and Lincoln Counties meet. The Gulf Mobile and Ohio railroad corridor anchors the small settlements of Oma and Wanilla, while the winding course of Bahala Creek and its tributary Little Bahala Creek carve through the center of the quadrangle. This era shows a landscape transitioning between traditional agrarian life and industrial extraction, evidenced by numerous Gravel Pits scattered near the rail lines.

Local genealogy is well-preserved through numerous named landmarks, including Mount Zion Ch, Shiloh Ch, and the Bahala Chapel Cem near Tryus. These community centers, often situated on high ground above the many named branches like Swilley Branch and Indian Treaty Branch, reveal the early settlement patterns of these rural Mississippi counties. The topography also features a distinctive high ridge known as Saddlebags, standing above the Johnson Branch drainage.