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1955 Map of Snipe Island

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Snipe Island
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

The coastal marshes of the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge define this stretch of the Florida Panhandle during the mid-1950s. Situated along the boundary of Jefferson and Taylor counties, the map documents a labyrinthine shoreline where the Aucilla River and the Econfina River empty into Apalachee Bay. This landscape is primarily comprised of tidal creeks and salt marshes, with very few signs of human infrastructure beyond Econfina Landing and a handful of unimproved dirt tracks.

The intricate drainage network is particularly detailed, showing numerous family-named and descriptive water bodies like Snipe Creek, L Bowden Cr, and Peary Island Cr. These features, along with landmarks like Possum Gap Island and Gamble Point, provide a essential view of the untouched gulf coast before later development or environmental changes. For those studying the hydrography of the region, the distinction between the West Cutoff and East Cutoff near the river mouths offers insight into the natural flow and navigation of these historic waterways.