1901 Map of Fayetteville

About this map

Bentonville and Fayetteville anchor this detailed 1901 survey of Northwest Arkansas, a region then defined by its emerging rail corridors and deep-rooted agricultural settlements. The St. Louis and San Francisco R. R. runs north-south through the center, connecting growing towns like Rogers and Springdale, while the Kansas City Southern Ry serves the western edge through Decatur and Gentry. A significant historical landmark is noted in the northeast corner at the Pea Ridge Battlefield, where Elkhorn Tavern stands near the base of Elkhorn Mountain. The landscape is a network of springs and water-powered industry, evidenced by Osage Mills on Osage Creek and Rhea's Mill to the southwest. From the Illinois River headwaters to the White River bluffs, the map documents the transition from isolated rural townships like Wager and Esculapia into a more connected regional economy.