Loading map...

1954 Map of Salem Sw

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Salem Sw
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

Hydrological patterns and early timber transit define this coastal Florida landscape as it appeared in the mid-1950s. The terrain is characterized by a complex network of wetlands and seasonal drainages, including Minnow Slough, Coker Slough, and the distinctive California Sinks. These features, along with Bevins Creek and California Creek, illustrate the low-lying, porous nature of the region's karst topography.

Evidence of historical resource extraction is visible in the Old Railroad Grade that cuts through the wetlands, likely a remnant of the area's logging history. The Salem Lookout Tower stands as a sentinel over the woods, while the southern portion of the sheet is dominated by the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area, marking the transition toward the gulf coast. This survey provides a baseline of the coastal plains before more modern development altered these drainage patterns.