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1963 Map of Somerset

Name: 1963 Topographic Map of Somerset
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The meandering course of the Mississippi River dominates this 1963 landscape, where the shifting waters have carved out Middle Palmyra Island and the expansive Davis Island. The border between Louisiana and Mississippi weaves through the current and former channels, reflecting the complex riparian history of Tensas and Madison Parishes. Local life is anchored by small settlements and rural spiritual centers, including Quimby and Somerset, with community roots visible at St Paul Ch, Pasture Green Ch, and St John Ch.

A massive levee system guards the low-lying bottomlands, running parallel to the Missouri Pacific railroad. The terrain is marked by numerous oxbow lakes and bayous, such as Mill Lake and Hurricane Island Chute, while several Indian Mounds point to a deep history of human habitation on this alluvial plain. Genealogists can find several burial sites including Somerset Cem and Allendale Cem near the riverbanks.