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1938 Map of Benton

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Benton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

Benton serves as the focal point of this late 1930s landscape, positioned where the Missouri Pacific railroad intersects the North Fork Saline River. The region's economy is clearly defined by its geology, most notably at the Bauxite Mines and the company town of Bauxite, which are supported by the dedicated Bauxite & Northern rail line. This era captures a rural network of river crossings and small community centers, including numerous river fords such as Wray Ford and Will James Ford.

Social and civic life is anchored by a dense distribution of country schools and churches, from Kentucky Sch to the State Hospital. The map reveals a land transitioning from river-valley farming to industrial extraction, evidenced by the proximity of the Quapaw Camp to the heavy rail corridors. Local family names and community history are preserved in labels for sites like Tatumville, Congo, and several small cemeteries including Lee Cem and Pitkin Cem.