2020 Map of Yancopin

About this map

The confluence of the White River and the Arkansas River dominates this landscape, where the shifting hydrology of the Mississippi Delta is etched into the terrain. The border between Arkansas Co and Desha Co weaves through these ancient river channels, following the natural meanders of Menard Bend, House Bend, and Jefferson Bend. Human settlement in this floodplain is sparse, with small communities like Yancopin, Watson, and Medina situated along elevated ground or protected by the substantial Levee. The map documents a complex network of backwaters and bayous, such as Carter Bayou and Sutton Bayou, which drain into larger features like the Minnie Anderson Old River. These features represent the dynamic nature of the river system, where oxbows and cutoffs like Saw Mill Bend Cutoff reveal how the rivers have migrated over time, leaving behind landmarks like Melinda Bar and Poverty Point.