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1987 Map of Fort Smith

Name: 1987 Topographic Map of Fort Smith
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1990
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1990

About this map

The Arkansas River serves as a defining boundary in this late-1980s landscape, separating Fort Smith and Van Buren from the western lowlands of Moffett Bottom across the state line in Oklahoma. The urban grid of Fort Smith is densely packed with local institutions, including numerous schools like North Side High Sch and St Johns Sch, alongside spiritual landmarks such as Immaculate Conception Sch and Gospel Tabernacle. The convergence of the Poteau River with the Arkansas highlights a legacy of river navigation and industry, evidenced by multiple gaging stations and sewage treatment facilities.

Transportation infrastructure dominates the western edge, where the Kansas City Southern RR and the Expressway cut through small settlements like Moffett, Dora, and Greenwood Junction. Rural life is preserved in the northern reaches of the map near Lee Creek, where cemeteries like Peavyhouse Cem and small congregations such as Alexander Mem Ch mark long-established communities. This era reflects a period of significant utility development, with numerous Gas Wells dotting the floodplain and industrial sites such as a Quarry near the Crawford County line.