2017 Map of Calico Rock

About this map

Calico Rock and the winding White River define this corner of the Ozarks, where the river carves deep bluffs and creates landmarks like Herd Island and Creswell Island. The landscape is a network of ridges and hollows, including Kennedy Hollow and Hurricane Hollow, which provided the topography for isolated homesteads and community centers. A significant portion of the area is protected as the Ozark National Forest, crisscrossed by historic routes like the Syl. Horse Trail-McGowen and the Syl. Horse Trail-Hidden Spring. Genealogy researchers will find a high density of family burial grounds scattered across the terrain, including the Coots, Branscumb, Casteel, and Rorie cemeteries. The transition from the settlement at Optimus to the site of Old Optimus reflects the shifting patterns of rural residency in Izard and Stone counties over the decades.