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1958 Map of Flat River

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Flat River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Lead mining operations dominate the landscape of the eastern Ozarks in this late 1950s survey, where massive tailings piles and mine dumps surround established company towns. The industrial footprint of the Old Lead Belt is evident in the dense cluster of settlements like Leadwood, Desloge, Elvins, and Flat River, all connected by the Missouri Illinois railroad. Deep mine shafts such as Hunt Mine and Baker Mine signify the subterranean activity that drove the regional economy, while the surface is marked by extensive waste deposits that redirected local drainage patterns.

South of the industrial centers, the terrain transitions into the protected woodlands of the Clark National Forest, where landmarks like Sulphur Mountain and Simms Mountain rise above the St Francis River. For genealogists, the map preserves the location of several rural burial grounds, including Hamilton Cem and Shaner Cem, alongside small outposts like Wortham and Frankclay. The presence of the Bismarck Landing Field near the rail junction at Bismarck reflects the mid-century infrastructure supporting this resource-rich corridor.