1960 Map of Sharon

About this map

The Pearl River dominates the southern landscape of this 1960 survey, a moment of significant transition as the Pearl River Valley Reservoir project prepared to submerge extensive bottomlands. The map clearly identifies the future shoreline and area to be inundated, affecting numerous sloughs and lakes such as Blue Lake and Horseshoe Lake. Beyond the river valley, the terrain is dotted with small rural communities like Sharon and Farmhaven, characterized by a high density of country churches and schools, including Sacred Heart Mission, St John Ch, and the Sand Hill Sch. The historic Natchez Trace Parkway cuts across the center, intersecting an older network of routes and the Illinois Central Railroad corridor. This era captures the traditional settlement patterns of Madison County just before the reservoir's creation permanently altered the local geography and land use.