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1960 Map of Helena

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Helena
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

The Mississippi River meanders through the heart of this mid-century survey, defining the boundary between Arkansas and Mississippi. Along its western banks, the confluence of the White River and the Arkansas River creates a massive alluvial landscape protected by the White River National Wildlife Refuge and Bayou Meto State Wildlife Refuge. The terrain is famously interrupted by Crowleys Ridge, a prominent geological formation rising above the Delta floor near Forrest City and Marianna.

Economic life in 1960 is anchored by a dense network of major railroads, including the Missouri Pacific and the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific, which connect agricultural hubs like Stuttgart, known for its rice production, and the river city of Helena. To the east in Mississippi, the map traces the Tallahatchie River valley and the early footprint of the Arkabutla Reservoir, illustrating the scale of water management and flood control efforts in the post-war era.