2017 Map of Gladden

About this map

Shannondale and Gladden anchor this study of the Missouri Ozarks, a landscape defined by an intricate network of narrow valleys and family-named hollows. The terrain transitions between the Mark Twain National Forest to the north and the Ozark National Scenic Riverway along the southern margin. This drainage system is particularly dense, with Gladden Waters, Little Gladden Creek, and Barren Fork carving through the plateau. Local history is preserved in small rural burial sites like Empire Cemetery and Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, while landmarks such as Shelton Spring and Lake Deeken provide reliable water sources in this karst-influenced topography. The map illustrates a deeply rural pattern of settlement where life follows the natural contours of places like Persimmon Pond Hollow and Pigeon Roost Hollow.