1936 Map of Athens

About this map

Big Fork Mountains and the Missouri Mountains dominate this 1930s survey of the Ouachita region, where four county lines—PolK, Montgomery, Howard, and Pike—converge. The settlement pattern is defined by the high ridges of the Rock Springs and Gap Springs areas, with homesteads and community structures largely confined to the narrow valleys of the Little Missouri River and the Caddo River. Local life centers around rural institutions like Pleasant Grove Ch and a network of one-room schoolhouses, including Henry Sch and Miller Sch. A notable CCC Camp is situated near Cox Spring, reflecting the New Deal-era work projects that shaped this landscape during the Great Depression. The map also traces vital local routes such as Mine Creek Road and the Gap Trail, which provided essential transit through the steep gaps of Statehouse Mountain and Blaylock Mtn.