1952 Map of Forest

About this map

The Forest area of Scott and Newton Counties is anchored by the crossing of the Illinois Central Railroad and the sprawling woodlands of the Bienville National Forest. This mid-century revision shows a rural landscape densely populated with small agrarian communities and family-named landmarks. Notable gathering points like the Patrons Union Campground and Singleton Settlement indicate a social structure deeply tied to local institutions, while a high concentration of country schools, such as Piney Grove Sch. and Ringold Sch., and churches like Ephesis Ch. suggest the distribution of residents across the hills long before significant urbanization.