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1947 Map of Jonesboro

Name: 1947 Topographic Map of Jonesboro
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The Mississippi River defines the western edge of this 1947 survey, where complex water features like Picayune Chute and Devils Island create a dynamic riverfront landscape. Along the eastern bluffs, the agricultural and spiritual heart of Union County is visible through numerous country churches and small industry, including the Kornthal Church and the Dutch Mills near Jonesboro. The terrain shifts from the broad bottomlands of Hopskin Bottoms and Running Lake to the steep ridges of Shawnee National Forest, where features like Atwood Ridge and Hamburg Hill rise above the valleys.

Transport networks of the mid-20th century are well-documented, showing the Illinois Central and Missouri Pacific railroads threading through settlements such as Ware and Elco. Genealogists will find significant value in the numerous family-named landmarks and rural institutions, from the Misenheimer School and McClure School to scattered burial grounds like Sims Cemetery and Phillips Cemetery. This map captures a moment when rural life centered around these small school districts and landing points before further modernization changed the valley's settlement patterns.