1901 Map of Gurdon

About this map

Prescott and Gurdon anchor this turn-of-the-century landscape, serving as critical hubs for the logging and rail industries that shaped Southwest Arkansas. The St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern R. R. cuts diagonally across the terrain, meeting various spur lines such as the Prescott and Lumber Cos. R. R. that reach deep into the timberlands. The Little Missouri River meanders through the central region, defining the boundary line between several counties and providing a natural corridor for early development. Small settlements like Whelen Springs, Boughton, and Okolona are visible at their early stages, many situated along the rail corridors that were essential for the movement of goods. Genealogists and local historians can find a wealth of named townships, including Missouri, Red Land, and Georgia, which provide context for the rural settlement patterns before modern infrastructure transformed the region.