1941 Map of Vicksburg

About this map

The Vicksburg National Military Park dominates the high ground overlooking the city, preserving the intricate trench lines and battery positions that defined the 1863 siege. Below the bluffs, the Mississippi River and Yazoo River display a complex hydrologic history, marked by the Centennial Cut-Off 1876 and the Yazoo Diversion Canal, which redirected the rivers to maintain the city's status as a deep-water port. This 1941 survey captures Vicksburg as a critical hub of mid-century infrastructure, featuring the Illinois Central Railroad and the U S Waterways Experiment Sta. To the north, the map details the transition into the delta lowlands of Issaquena County, dotted with oxbow lakes like Eagle Lake and Horseshoe Lake. Local life is recorded through numerous rural landmarks, including the Fernwood Sch, Culkin Academy, and several country churches such as Pleasant Valley Ch and St Mark Ch.