1971 Map of Charter Oak

About this map

Charter Oak sits at the heart of this Bootheel landscape, a region defined by its intensive drainage systems and agricultural layout as it appeared in the early 1970s. The terrain transitions from the elevations of Big Ridge and Elk into the expansive Big Prairie, where the Little River and man-made channels like Otter Slough Ditch manage the low-lying wetlands. Evidence of former transportation networks is preserved in the Old Railroad Grade running northwest from the settlement, while the rural social fabric is anchored by the Big Ridge Ch, Pilgrim Rest Ch, and the Big Ridge Sch. Family history is grounded in the Simmons Cem and numerous named wells that dot the grid. A modern touch to this traditional farming area is the Landing Strip and commercial Fish Ponds, illustrating the evolution of Missouri's southern plains.