2018 Map of Onward

About this map

Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge dominates the eastern reaches of this Sharkey and Issaquena County landscape, preserving a massive tract of bottomland hardwood habitat. The settlement of Onward sits at a central crossroads along Deer Creek, a primary waterway that meanders through the alluvial plain. This 2018 survey reveals a topography defined by complex hydrography, where remnants of ancient river paths appear as False River and Coon Bayou. Local infrastructure, including Low Water Bridge Rd and Atwood Rd, provides access to the agricultural lands and wetland basins that lie between the Steele Bayou and Newsom Bayou systems. The map further details the small communities of Blanton, Smedes, and Kelso, each situated near the winding course of the creek, illustrating the long-standing relationship between settlement patterns and the Delta's natural drainage.