1947 Map of Barling

About this map

Fort Chaffee dominates the central and southern reaches of this landscape, its military infrastructure and landing fields established south of the Arkansas River. Originally surveyed in the late 1940s and revised in the early 1970s, the map illustrates the expansion of Barling and the industrial activity near Central City, including a visible strip mine. Local life is anchored by family-named landmarks and rural institutions such as St Marys Ch and Sch, Rye Hill Church, and the Howard Hill School. The northern border follows the river's path, featuring the Ozark Reservoir and public use areas near the dam sites. Transport across the terrain is defined by the Missouri Pacific railroad and a network of named boulevards, including Fort Smith Boulevard and Arkansas Boulevard, which connect the military reservation to the growing urban edges of Fort Smith.