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1938 Map of Benton

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Benton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Saline River and its numerous forks dominate this late-1930s landscape, serving as the central axis for the development of Benton and its surrounding communities. The local economy is visibly shaped by mineral extraction, most notably at the Bauxite Mines near the town of Bauxite, which is connected to the regional transportation network via the Bauxite and Northern and Missouri Pacific railroads.

Tracing the rural topography reveals a dense network of early 20th-century social hubs, including schools like Gray Hill Sch and Mountain View Sch, alongside numerous country churches such as Owens Chapel and Mt Carmel Ch. Cultural history is anchored by landmarks like the Indian Mound near the river and the sprawling State Hospital grounds. For genealogical research, the map provides precise locations for family and community burial grounds, including Pitkin Cem and Winters Cem, as well as river crossings like Will James Ford.