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1948 Map of Birch Tree

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Birch Tree
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1948
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Winona State Forest and the Eleven Point Refuge dominate this late 1940s landscape, illustrating a region defined by conservation and forest management. The geography is characterized by its karst features, including numerous sinks and springs such as Tupelo Gum Pond, Falling Spring, and the massive Greer Spring feeding the Eleven Point River. Rural life is centered around community landmarks like Blackjack Ch, Oak Grove Sch, and the Oak Forest Cem, serving the scattered residents of the Bartlett Ridge and Piedmont Ridge areas.

The map highlights the complex relationship between the rugged Ozark terrain and early infrastructure. Old State Road and various lookouts like Possum Trot Lookout reflect a period of active fire monitoring and developing transportation routes. Small settlements like Birch Tree and Winona serve as the primary hubs, while numerous schools like Sunnyside Sch and Hickory Grove Sch point to a once-denser rural population living near the hollows and springs.