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1936 Map of Athens

Name: 1936 Topographic Map of Athens
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

Athens and the surrounding Ouachita highlands of Montgomery, Polk, and Howard Counties appear here as they were during the mid-1930s. The landscape is defined by the sharp east-west ridges of the Missouri Mountains and Gap Springs Mountain, which channel the headwaters of the Little Missouri River and the Caddo River. This era is marked by New Deal-era infrastructure, including a CCC Camp at Cox Spring and several fire towers, such as the one atop Little Missouri Mountain.

Rural life is anchored by localized centers like Big Fork, Langley, and Fancy Hill. A network of country schools, including Miller Sch and Pleasant Hill Sch, indicates a dispersed but established population before post-war consolidation. Transportation relies on specialized routes like the Mine Creek Road and Athens Road, which navigate the steep gaps and valleys. The presence of Cox Cem and Misels Chapel provides specific points of interest for genealogists tracing families in these mountain communities.