Island Number 8

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The main navigation channel was on the west side of the island but the 1927 and 1937 floods caused the current to change, resulting in the eastside being the main navigational channel.
As for its name, Island number 8 dates from 1801 when Z Cramer published his book of navigational charts of the Lower Mississippi (downstream from Cairo, IL). Instead of using names for the river's many sandy islands, which frequently have many conflicting local names, he opted to use numbers starting with Island Number 1 some five miles south of Cairo, IL. Island number 8 was the 8th island on the river as boats proceed south. Many islands have since disappeared due to the Mississippi's changing course, thus Island Number 8 is no longer the 8th island, yet the original name persisted.