2020 Map of Cord

About this map

Elgin and the meandering Black River anchor this landscape along the Independence and Jackson County line, where the terrain transitions from the elevations of Turkey Hill down to the fertile river bottomlands. The area is characterized by a complex network of waterways and wetlands, including Curia Lake, Swift Slough, and Ray Brake, which suggest a long history of seasonal flooding and changing river courses. Local life is centered around small crossroads communities like Cord and Dowdy, connected by a grid of rural roads such as Lick Creek Rd and Otter Lake Rd. For genealogists and local historians, the presence of Hopewell Cem, Williams Cem, and Happy Cem provides vital reference points for tracing families who settled these wetlands and ridges. The numerous sloughs and lakes, such as Saltwork Slough and Horseshoe Lake, illustrate the intricate hydrology that has defined farming and travel in this corner of Arkansas.