1960 Map of Bethel

About this map

Sulphur Mountain and the surrounding ridges of McCurtain County dominate this 1960s landscape, where the Industrial Railroad cuts through the timbered terrain of the Ouachita foothills. The settlement of Battiest and the nearby community of Bethel serve as local hubs, connected by a network of creeks like Coon Creek and Winship Branch. Local life centers around several rural institutions, including the North Bethel School and Bethel Hill Church, which stands near the Bethel Hill Cemetery. The mapping reveals a distinct pattern of valley floor habitation along the Glover River and Little Pine Creek, while higher elevations like High Peak and White Rock Mountain remain primarily managed for forestry and fire observation, indicated by the Lookout Tower on the eastern ridges. This era captures the region's transition into a more integrated forest-industry economy, anchored by the railway and small mountain hamlets like Sherwood and Mt Herman.