2012 Map of Rend Lake Dam

About this map

Rend Lake dominates the landscape of Franklin County in the early 21st century, its sprawling fingers and inlets creating a complex shoreline that reshaped the local geography. The map illustrates a modern era of recreation and utility centered around the Rend Lake Marina and the expansive Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park. Beneath this aquatic infrastructure, the original agricultural and industrial footprint remains visible through numerous family and community burial grounds, such as Winemiller Cem and Shiloh Cem, which dot the eastern rises. The persistent importance of the region's energy resources is evident in the Whittington Oil Field and Benton North Oil Field, while the Big Muddy River continues its course south of the dam. The settlement of Whittington serves as a small inland hub, linked to the larger municipal footprint of the Benton Municipal Airport near the southern map boundary.