Lloyd's map of the lower Mississippi River from St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico

Southern settlement patterns were primarily rural and agricultural. Although some railroads existed by the 1850s, mileage and connectivity were limited. There was heavy reliance on river transportation as suggested by this multi-sheet map of the Mississippi River. Cutting through the heart of the country, the Mississippi created alluvial soils ideal for commercial agriculture. Near New Orleans sugar was the primary crop, while upriver in northern Louisiana and in Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee, cotton was the major cash crop. While individual plantations are not associated with either crop, plantation and landowner names identify the large landholdings lining the river’s edge. One of particular note is Jefferson Davis’ plantation, which is labeled as Davis Bend or Hurricane Plantation, located 20 miles downstream from Vicksburg on a large meander of the river. Crossing Boundaries exhibition: Shown on this map as a dense block of squares between Lake Ponchartrain and the Mississippi River, New Orleans was the center of trade from plantations that are visible as long lots bordering the river to the north. Canals and ditches were developed in an attempt to mitigate flooding, even in the 19th century. Today, as a result of severe storms and rising sea levels, Louisiana’s wetlands are disappearing faster than any on the planet.
Courtesy of Boston Public Library