1960 Map of Portland

About this map

Bayou Bartholomew snakes in extreme meanders through this portion of Ashley County, defining a landscape of oxbow lakes and remnant brakes. The settlement of Portland sits at the northeastern corner, where the Missouri Pacific railroad runs parallel to the bayou's general course. This era shows a distributed rural community connected by small churches and schools, such as Tillis High Sch and New Light Ch. The map's detail extends to the complex hydrology of the Delta, naming features like Wilson Brake, Anthony Lake, and St Marion Brake, which illustrate the slow-moving drainage patterns of the region. To the south, the village of Parkdale marks the rail line near Union Ch, while the interior is dotted with remote landmarks like Holly Grove Ch and its associated cemetery, revealing the localized centers of social life in the mid-20th century.