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1901 Map of De Soto

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of De Soto
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1901
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1901

About this map

The Meramec River and Big River dominate the landscape of eastern Missouri in this turn-of-the-century survey, revealing a region defined by its waterway crossings and industrial heritage. The density of named river fords, such as Big Eddy Ford, Fishtrap Ford, and Hunters Ford, highlights the localized travel patterns of the late 19th century before modern bridge infrastructure became commonplace.

Settlement centers like De Soto and Hillsboro anchor the map, while the extraction economy is clearly visible through the Vulcan Mine and Valle Mines. Numerous water-powered operations including Pohlman Mill and Byrnes Mill indicate a robust local milling industry. Transport is further facilitated by the St. Louis and San Francisco RR in the north, connecting communities like Robertsville and Pacific to the wider trade networks of the era.