2024 Map of Bates

About this map

Poteau Mtn dominates this borderland landscape, where the rugged terrain of the Quachita National Forest meets the Arkansas-Oklahoma state line. This survey details a series of small, interconnected settlements including Bates, Coaldale, and Hiawatha, many of which developed around the local geography of the Poteau River and its numerous tributaries like Shadley Creek and Sugar Creek. A clear pattern of rural life and early industry is evident, from the Strip Pit Rd hinting at historical resource extraction near Coaldale to the Mill Race and Trestle Ford that suggest older ways of crossing and utilizing the water. Genealogists will find several burial grounds noted, such as Gipson Cem and Weeks Cem, providing essential markers for families tied to these forest-shrouded communities.