1977 Map of Cedar Gap

About this map

Cedar Gap and the surrounding Ozark plateau are captured in this 1977 orthophotograph, a specialized aerial survey produced in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service. This document reveals the intricate texture of the landscape, where wooded ridges and steep ravines contrast sharply with the cleared agricultural plots on the flatter uplands. The drainage of Bryant Creek carves through the eastern portion of the quadrangle, dictating the patterns of local roads and property boundaries. Unlike traditional topographic maps, this imagery-based study provides a direct look at the vegetation cover and land use at the settlement of Mt Zion during the late 1970s. Researchers can examine the specific footprints of farmsteads and the density of timber in a region shaped by both its rugged geology and rural development.