1981 Map of Tunica

About this map

The Mississippi River and its shifting alluvial landscape dominate this 1980s survey of northwestern Mississippi. The river's historical meanders are fossilized in oxbow lakes and complex point bars like Tunica Lake, Horse Head L, and Ship Island. The town of Tunica is the primary inland hub, served by the Illinois Central Gulf railroad and anchored by civic institutions like the County Hosp and the Technical Institute of Learning. To the south, the settlement of Austin sits near the banks of Lost Lake, highlighting the precarious relationship between Delta communities and the water. The landscape is dotted with numerous country churches and cemeteries, such as St Pauls Ch and Crystal Springs Cem, reflecting a rural social structure tied to the land. Drainage canals and bayous, including McKinney Bayou and White Oak Bayou, illustrate the extensive engineering required to maintain the agricultural productivity of the surrounding bottomlands.