1949 Map of Coldwater

About this map

Saint Francois National Forest anchors this mid-century portrait of southeastern Missouri, where the rugged terrain of the St. Francois Mountains meets a network of river-bottom settlements. The St Francis River winds through the western half of the sheet, connected by essential river crossings like Wide Ford and Reed Bend Ford. In an era before modern highway expansion, local life centered on community anchors such as French Mills and rural commerce hubs like Twelvemile Store and Chubb Store. These small outposts, alongside Gravelton and Coldwater, were supported by a dense distribution of country schools, including King Sch and Mt Pisgah Sch. The map reveals a landscape defined by family-named peaks like Marlow Mtn and Matthews Mtn, illustrating the historical geography of Madison and Wayne counties during a period of established rural tradition.