1967 Map of Reelfoot Lake

About this map

Reelfoot Lake and its intricate network of basins, pockets, and sloughs dominate this landscape along the Mississippi River in northwest Tennessee. The map illustrates a unique hydrologic environment where the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge and the Reelfoot State Wildlife Management Area preserve vast wetlands like Blue Basin and Swan Basin. Along the western shore, Tiptonville serves as a hub of activity near Reelfoot Airport, while the southern reaches show the Illinois Central railroad corridor passing through Ridgely and Wynnburg. The area's social history is evident in the numerous small congregations and burying grounds, including Crockett Chapel, Webb Chapel, and the Ridgely Cem. Detailed levee systems and revetments at Donaldson Point and Winchester Towhead reflect mid-century efforts by the Corps of Engineers to manage the powerful river flow that originally created this lake during the 1811-12 earthquakes.