Published in 1981 from survey work completed in 1980, the United States Geological Survey’s “Oxford South” captures a revealing moment in the landscape of north-central Mississippi. Centered on Oxford and its southern approaches, the map records the city not as an abstraction, but as a living arrangement of streets, roads, rail lines, streams, ridges, ponds, and open land. Its 1:24,000 topographical scale gives the viewer an intimate reading of the terrain, where the urban grid begins to loosen into the rolling countryside of Lafayette County. Highways 6 and 314 anchor the composition, while local roads trace older patterns of settlement and movement through hills, valleys, and agricultural ground.

The USGS topographical style gives this map its quiet authority. Contour lines ripple across the sheet to describe a landscape of gentle but persistent relief, revealing the subtle uplands and lower drainage corridors that shape Oxford’s surroundings. Water bodies, from small ponds and unnamed lakes to branches feeding larger systems, are marked with precision, while roads, railways, buildings, and recreational areas appear through the familiar coded language of federal cartography. This is a map designed for utility, yet its beauty lies in that very discipline: every symbol has a purpose, every line contributes to a larger understanding of place, and the whole composition becomes a finely grained portrait of Mississippi terrain.

Oxford itself lends the map considerable cultural resonance. Long associated with the University of Mississippi and the literary legacy of William Faulkner, the city occupies a distinctive place in the imagination of the American South. This 1980 view shows Oxford at a transitional point, before later decades of expansion further reshaped its outskirts and road corridors. The map’s depiction of streets, highways, and surrounding land use offers a grounded counterpoint to the city’s storied reputation: here, Oxford is seen through infrastructure, elevation, drainage, and settlement. The result is both practical and evocative, a topographical record of a place where cultural history and physical geography are closely intertwined.

Beyond Oxford, the map opens onto the surrounding communities and natural features that connect the city to the wider region. Taylor appears as part of the southern landscape, while roads reach toward Water Valley and the broader hill country of northern Mississippi. The Yocona River system and associated creeks and ponds give structure to the terrain, guiding valleys, roads, and settlement patterns. Sardis Lake, a major regional landmark, situates the map within a larger geography of water management and recreation. These features remind us that Oxford is not isolated, but part of a network of small towns, watersheds, transportation routes, and rural landscapes.

As a historical document, “Oxford South” preserves the area at the threshold of the 1980s, when patterns of land use, transportation, and suburban growth were beginning to change but had not yet taken their contemporary form. The USGS, renowned for its exacting surveys and its role in land management, natural resource study, and public planning, created maps like this to serve engineers, scientists, officials, and citizens alike. Today, its value extends beyond technical reference. It offers a composed, data-rich view of Oxford’s built and natural environment: a measured portrait of roads before rerouting, neighborhoods before expansion, and hills and waterways that continue to shape the region.

Cities, towns and places on this map

• Oxford, Mississippi
• Taylor, Mississippi
• Water Valley, Mississippi
• Sardis Lake
• Yocona River
• Highway 6
• Highway 314
• Several unnamed lakes and ponds
• Various roads and highways
• Topographic features, including hills and valleys
• Parks and recreational areas
• Rail lines

Historical context & cartographic details

• Historical 1:24,000 topographical map titled Oxford South
• Produced by the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
• Created in 1980 and published in 1981
• Shows Oxford, Mississippi and the surrounding area as it appeared around 1980
• Uses standard USGS topographical styling, including contour lines to show elevation changes
• Includes cartographic symbols for roads, railways, water bodies, parks, and other landscape features
• Depicts varied terrain, including rolling hills, flat valleys, and numerous water bodies
• Reflects infrastructure, land use, and urban development in and around Oxford at the time of mapping
• The USGS is known for producing authoritative mapping and survey data for land management and natural resource research

Looking for a particular place? Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, ask our workshop to check before you order.

Detailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.

Where personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. See personalised map examples.

Every piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.

With its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of rare old and vintage maps to discover another place, period or style.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.