Loading map...

1985 Map of Sikeston

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Sikeston
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1994
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1994

About this map

The Mississippi River creates a winding boundary between Missouri, Kentucky, and Tennessee on this mid-1980s sheet, defining a landscape of low-lying floodplains and ancient ridges. The convergence of the Ohio River near Birds Point anchors the northeast corner, while the Missouri Pacific RR and St Louis Southwestern RR intersect at Sikeston, highlighting the region's historical reliance on both rail and water transport.

Settlement patterns follow the high ground of Sikeston Ridge and O'Bryan Ridge, where communities like Grayridge and Malden grew alongside the tracks. Protected wetlands and historical landmarks are scattered across the basin, from the Towosahgy State Historic Site to the northern edge of the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge. The map captures the complex drainage of the bootheel region, including the Castor River and the sprawling network of the Little River, which transformed these bottomlands into productive agricultural territory.