1959 Map of Barnumton

About this map

Barnumton and the surrounding Camden County hills are defined by the winding course of the Niangua River as it feeds into the Lake of the Ozarks. This 1959 survey reveals a rural landscape deeply carved by drainage hollows, where small settlements like Bannister and Barnumton serve as the primary points of habitation alongside family landmarks like the Whitaker Cem. The map illustrates the historical importance of river crossings, specifically Bannister Ford, in an era when most roads remained unimproved dirt tracks connecting isolated homesteads and country congregations like Mission Point Ch and Parrack Grove Ch. The terrain is punctuated by significant natural water sources including Poe Spring and Eadsons Spring, which supported local life before the expansion of more modern infrastructure.