1949 Map of Pope

About this map

The Tennessee River corridor in West Tennessee is defined here by the emerging landscape of Kentucky Lake following the post-war impoundment of the river. The map details the complex transition between the river valley and the dissected uplands of Perry and Decatur Counties, where deep hollows like Allen Hollow and DePriest Hollow create a labyrinthine terrain. Historical river access points such as Brownsport Landing, Kellys Landing, and Vise Landing remain prominent, though the expansion of the Gumdale Dewatering Area signals the shift toward modern flood control and waterfowl management. An abandoned ore furnace stack near Furnace Branch serves as a tangible reminder of the region's earlier industrial period, while numerous rural institutions like Marsh Creek Church and the Sutton School anchor the scattered agrarian settlements of Pope and Gumdale.