The confluence of the North and South Sulphur Rivers traditionally marked the northwestern corner of Franklin County. However, during the construction of Cooper Lake, both these rivers were straightened west of this traditional confluence, and a new confluence was engineered about 3 miles west, as the crow flies, of the traditional confluence. This new confluence is about 3 miles due-south of the rural town of Cunningham in southeastern Lamar County. The former northern and southern boundaries of Delta County were marked by the North and South Sulphur Rivers, up to their old confluence at the NW corner of Franklin County. But after both these rivers were straightened, the old Delta County boundaries stayed the same. Nowadays on certain land documents, if property is located south of the Sulphur River in Delta County, it is noted as being in that "old part" of the county. This is approximately 16-18 square miles of the eastern part of Delta County, north of the old South Sulphur Riverbed. From the new confluence shown above, the river follows the traditional bed of the North Sulphur River into Franklin County and beyond.
There is an immigrant European farmer who lives in this "old part" of Delta County. He has a large rice farm and duck-hunting retreat. The large lake at the upper lefthand corners of these two photographs is on his property and is probably used for duck-hunting. The "drainage channels" are part of his rice-farming operations. This man's rice-farming operations are also shown in the aerial videotape.
