1951 Map of Cedar Gap

About this map

The St Louis San Francisco railroad corridor serves as the primary artery for this Ozark landscape, connecting the high ridge settlement at Cedar Gap to the surrounding rural districts. The terrain is defined by deep incisions like Panther Hollow and Smelter Hollow, while community life in the mid-20th century centered on neighborhood hubs such as Lead Hill Ch and Mountain Side Sch. The map reveals a high density of local history markers, including the Gentry Cem and Huffman Cem, reflecting a long-established pattern of upland farming. Water resources are prominent along the drainages of Finley Creek and Bryant Creek, with the man-made Cedar Gap Lake situated near the county line divide. This survey captures a moment when traditional rural institutions like the Casto Sch and Mt Zion Ch still anchored these Ozark valleys.