1957 Map of Placida

About this map

Placida serves as a small coastal hub in the late 1950s, where the Seaboard Air Line railroad terminates near the water's edge. This maritime landscape is defined by the narrow barrier islands of Don Pedro Island, Little Gasparilla Island, and Gasparilla Island, separating the Gulf of Mexico from the protected waters of Placida Harbor and Gasparilla Sound. The map reveals the era's reliance on water-based transit, highlighting multiple Ferry Landing locations that connect the mainland to the islands before extensive bridge development. To the south, the settlement of Boca Grande sits at the tip of the island chain, while inland waterways like Coral Creek and West Branch drain into the sound. The boundary between Charlotte Co and Lee Co is clearly marked as it crosses the southernmost portion of the island near Grande Bayou.