1956 Map of Vidalia

About this map

Wolf River and Rotten Bayou dominate the drainage patterns of this coastal Mississippi landscape, where the boundary between Hancock and Harrison counties cuts through the dense timber and marshlands. The settlement of Vidalia sits near the northern edge of the sheet, while the southern reaches open toward the waters of St Louis Bay. This mid-century survey reveals a distributed community structure defined by its rural institutions, including St Williams Ch, St Anne Ch, and Little Bethel Ch. Near the southern marshes, the De Lisle area is anchored by St Stephens Sch and its associated cemetery. The presence of a Lookout Tower and several Flowing Wells indicates the importance of timber management and groundwater access in this low-lying territory before major modern development altered the rural character of the bayou country.