1901 Map of Hillsboro

About this map

De Soto and Hillsboro anchor this turn-of-the-century landscape where the industrial and agrarian economies of Missouri meet. The terrain is defined by the winding paths of the Missouri River, Meramec River, and Big River, each lined with numerous crossings such as Big Eddy Ford and Virginia Mines Ford. The presence of the Vulcan Mine and multiple lumber and flour operations like Pohlman Mill and Waits Sawmill reflects a period of intensive resource extraction and processing. Significant railroad infrastructure, including the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern R. R. and the Bonne Terre R. R., links these remote settlements to larger markets. Small communities such as Richwoods, Morse Mill, and House Springs are scattered throughout the region, illustrating the early settlement patterns of Franklin and Jefferson counties.