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1939 Map of Onward

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Onward
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

The Yazoo River and its intricate network of bayous dominate this 1939 survey, revealing the complex hydrology of the Mississippi Delta before extensive modern levee systems were completed. Small railroad stops and agricultural landings such as Onward, Smedes, and Valley Park dot the Illinois Central line, which follows the natural high ground between the river and the swamps. The landscape is characterized by its numerous ancient waterways, including the Little Sunflower River, Cypress Bayou, and the crescent-shaped False River.

Cultural landmarks like the Lumber Yard at Valley Park and various Indian Mounds indicate a long history of human occupation along these alluvial ridges. To the south, the terrain shifts abruptly at Haynes Bluff, where the map notes an entire escarpment not contoured. A power transmission line under construction and the Mississippi and Yazoo Valley Electric Power Line represent the era's push for rural electrification through this river-dependent region.