1959 Map of Heavener

About this map

The Poteau River valley serves as a primary corridor for transportation and settlement in this late 1950s survey of eastern Oklahoma. The city of Heavener stands at a significant junction where the Kansas City Southern railroad intersects the rugged slopes of Poteau Mountain. This rail-oriented economy is further evidenced by the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific lines moving through Wister and Howe. Outside the industrial and transit hubs, the landscape transitions into the protected wilderness of the Ouachita National Forest. Local history is preserved in rural landmarks such as Mt Pleasant Ch, the Hodgen Cem near Hodgens, and the small community of Monroe near the northern border. Significant water features like Lake Wister and Hontubby Falls highlight the importance of the region's watersheds to both local industry and early recreational development at Lake Wister State Park.