1956 Map of West Palm Beach

About this map

Lake Okeechobee serves as the hydrological heart of this mid-century portrait, directing water through an intricate network of man-made channels like the Miami Canal and Hillsboro Canal. On the eastern coast, the rapid post-war expansion of South Florida is evident in the burgeoning coastal corridor from Jupiter down to the metropolitan edge. Inland, the map reveals a transition from agricultural settlements like Belle Glade and Pahokee to the wild expanses of The Everglades and Big Cypress Swamp. This revised edition illustrates the emerging transportation infrastructure of the era, notably Alligator Alley and the Everglades Parkway, which began to bridge the formerly impassable interior. Significant protected lands and cultural sites are recorded, including the Big Cypress Indian Reservation and Everglades National Wildlife Refuge, marking a period of formalizing conservation and tribal territories amidst the state's growth.