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1953 Map of Sardis

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Sardis
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The Sardis Dam and the sprawling waters of Sardis Lake dominate the landscape of Panola County in this mid-century survey. The massive engineering project on the Little Tallahatchie River is shown in detail, including the spillway and the recreation areas at Lower Lake Beach and Willow Cove. The map documents a transition in the region's geography, where traditional river crossings like the Belmont Bridge and local drainages like the Mc Ivor Canal sit alongside the newly managed reservoir system.

For the family historian, this sheet is exceptionally dense with rural institutions. Dozens of combined church and school sites are recorded, such as Simon Chapel No 1 Sch & Cem and New Hope Ch Sch & Cem, which served the dispersed agricultural communities surrounding Sardis and Batesville. The path of the Illinois Central railroad remains the primary north-south artery, connecting the town centers to the smaller outlying stops like Hayes Crossing.