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1950 Map of Helena

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Helena
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1952
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

The Mississippi River and its massive alluvial plain dominate this mid-century landscape, where a dense network of bayous and meandering channels defines the Arkansas and Mississippi borderlands. Settlement patterns follow the high ground and the paths of major rail lines, including the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific RR and the Missouri Pacific RR. Significant agricultural operations like the Bemis Plantation are visible alongside established river towns such as Des Arc and Cotton Plant.

To the east, the rising elevation of Crowley Ridge provides a distinct geological break from the surrounding lowlands. The importance of water management in this era is evident in the presence of the Arkabutla Reservoir and the intricate drainage systems of the White River and St Francis River. This survey captures the region just as modern highway infrastructure, like US Highway 70, began to supplement the traditional river-and-rail economy of eastern Arkansas.