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1958 Map of Sunniland

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Sunniland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Sunniland and its surrounding wetlands occupy a landscape defined by the intersection of early industrial extraction and the Florida interior's natural drainage patterns. The settlement of Harker lies along the Atlantic Coast Line railroad, which serves as a primary transit corridor through the Sunniland Swamp. This survey documents a critical period of resource development, specifically highlighting several Oil Well sites and a Quarry near the rail line, showing how industry pushed into the edges of the Big Cypress region.

Water and elevation dictate the terrain's character, with the prominent Okaloacoochee Slough and Mud Lake Strand cutting through the vegetation. Higher ground is identified by names like Owl Hammock and Sick Island, while an Indian Mound provides a rare archaeological marker amidst the marshes and levee systems. The map captures the delicate balance between the vast Bear Island Strand and the man-made infrastructure of early mid-century Collier County.