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1947 Map of Gorham

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Gorham
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Big Muddy River winds in dramatic loops through the center of this landscape, carving deep bends such as Horseshoe Bend and Mill Bend as it approaches its confluence with the Mississippi. The terrain is defined by a stark contrast between the low-lying Oakwood Bottoms and the prominent rising massif of Fountain Bluff, which reaches an elevation notable enough for the Fountain Bluff Lookout Tower. Small settlements like Gorham and Grand Tower serve as anchors for the local community, while vanished rail stops and sidings like Johns Spur and Fountain Bluff Station mark the paths of the Missouri Pacific and Illinois Central railroads.

Evidence of early 20th-century rural life is scattered across the ridges and hollows, where genealogists can locate family landmarks like Goodbread Cem, Henson Cem, and Hudson Cem. The map documents a network of one-room schoolhouses, including Hickory Ridge School and Shoal Creek School, positioned along the edges of the Shawnee National Forest. Unique local landmarks like Rattlesnake Ferry and the Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower emphasize the area's history as a managed forest and river-dependent economy.