1894 Map of Benton

About this map

Benton serves as the focal point for this late 19th-century landscape, where the Saline River and its numerous forks dominate the southern terrain. This survey, based on 1888 fieldwork, documents a period before the establishment of major highway networks, highlighting the original topographic character of central Arkansas. The northern boundary is defined by the winding Arkansas River and Fourche La Fave River, while the interior is marked by prominent peaks such as Flatside Pinnacle and the Maumelle Pinnacles. Local life is anchored in small settlements and townships like Brazils, Avilla, and Aplin. The map reveals the early boundaries of the Arkansas National Forest, showing how the federal government managed these timberlands and mountainous ridges, including White Oak Mt and Prilliman Ridge, during the expansion of the western frontier.