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1968 Map of Cureall NW

Name: 1968 Topographic Map of Cureall NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1969
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1969

About this map

The North Fork River carves a deep path through this section of the Ozarks, defining a landscape of sharp ridges and spring-fed hollows. In the late 1960s, the area remained largely rural, centered on small settlements like Birdtown and Cross Roads. This geography is characterized by an abundance of natural springs, including North Fork Springs, Rainbow Spring, and the prominent Althea Spring near the southern boundary. These water sources likely dictated the placement of early homesteads and community centers across Rich Land.

Evidence of local heritage is preserved in the numerous country cemeteries and churches scattered throughout the township, such as Oak Mound Cem and New Liberty Ch. The Mark Twain National Forest encompasses the northeastern portion of the sheet, where the High Place Lookout Tower stands as a sentinel over the timbered terrain of Crooked Ridge and the Devils Backbone. The presence of Duncan Ford and several jeep trails suggests a landscape where movement was still closely tied to the natural contours of the river valley.