1958 Map of Cauthron

About this map

Cauthron and Oliver sit along the Kansas City Southern corridor in this late-1950s study of the western Arkansas borderlands. The landscape is defined by the heavy timber of the Ouachita National Forest and the winding course of the Poteau River. High points such as Sugar Loaf Mountain and Poteau Mountain dominate the northern half of the area, where the Poteau Lookout Tower stands as a sentinel over the forest. To the south, the terrain breaks into distinct ridges like Brawley Ridge and Walker Mountain. Evidence of early community life appears at Morgan Spring Church and the BM Patterson settlement near the Sebastian and Scott County line. The presence of a Gaging Station on the river and numerous water sources like Sixmile Creek and Gum Branch highlight the importance of water management in this rural upland environment.