1935 Map of Powhatan

About this map

The confluence of the Eleven Point River, Spring River, and Black River dominates this mid-1930s landscape in Lawrence and Randolph Counties. This was a critical river-and-rail corridor where the St. Louis San Francisco Ry. follows the Black River through settlements like Black Rock and Portia. The map documents a complex hydrology of oxbows and sloughs, including Bull Fizzle Lake and Horseshoe Lake, alongside human engineering like the Francisco Ditch. A significant feature is the "Meander Line 1854" noted along the riverbanks, providing a rare benchmark for historical shoreline changes. This survey is particularly valuable for genealogists, as it identifies numerous rural community centers that combined spiritual and educational life, such as Lauderdale Ch Sch & Cem and Hubble Creek Ch & Sch, often located near river crossings like Gibson Ferry.