1942 Map of Bethesda

About this map

White River navigation and the Missouri Pacific railroad define the transportation corridor of Independence County in the early 1940s. The village of Bethesda serves as a central hub, surrounded by a dense network of country schools such as Independence Sch and Chinquapin Sch. This era captures a landscape of active industry, notably at the Martin Mines and Mcbride Mines, alongside the University of Arkansas Experimental Farm. The map reveals the community's spiritual and social infrastructure through various landmarks like Campground Ch and Pilgrims Rest Ch. Waterways like Lafferty Cr and East Lafferty Creek carve through the terrain, where river-crossing points like Walls Ferry and Earnhearts Ferry once linked the disparate ridge settlements and hollows.