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1901 Map of Gurdon

Name: 1901 Topographic Map of Gurdon
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

The Little Missouri River snakes through South Central Arkansas, forming a winding natural boundary between Clark, Pike, and Nevada counties. This landscape is defined by the heavy presence of early logging and transit corridors, notably the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern R. R. which connects timber hubs like Gurdon and Beirne. The town of Prescott serves as a primary western anchor, where the Prescott and Northwestern R. R. branches off to serve the surrounding countryside.

Smaller settlements and rural junctions like Whelen Springs, Okolona, and Reader are scattered among a dense network of watercourses, including Terre Noire Creek and Bodcaw Creek. The map details a period when these waterways and rail lines dictated the economy, supporting a series of townships including Boughton, Albany, and Liberty. This record captures the intricate drainages and railroad-dependent towns of the region at the very opening of the twentieth century.