1941 Map of De Witt

About this map

The Ark State College Experimental Rice Farm sits at the heart of this Arkansas landscape, illustrating the region's specialized agricultural development in the early 1940s. The town of De Witt serves as a central hub, surrounded by a complex network of irrigation and drainage infrastructure including Main Ditch and numerous reservoirs like Thomas Reservoirs and Bennett Reservoir. This water management system is vital for the local rice economy, visible in the way Ditch No 1 and other laterals cut across the prairie terrain. Rural life is anchored by a dense network of country schools and churches, such as Emanuel Industrial Sch & Ch and New Providence Sch. Transport is defined by the St Louis Southwestern railroad, which connects smaller settlements like Almyra, Olena, and Kittler while threading between the natural winding courses of La Grue Bayou and Mill Bayou.