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1974 Map of Joyland

Name: 1974 Topographic Map of Joyland
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

The St Francis River meanders sharply through the bottomlands of the Arkansas Delta in this early 1970s survey, defining the rural character of the border between Poinsett and Crittenden counties. The landscape is a complex network of engineered drainage, featuring Ditch No 1, Ditch No 44, and Bayou Mack, which support the region's agricultural production. Small settlements and spiritual centers are scattered across the terrain, from the community at Joyland to the cluster of churches further south, including New Hope Ch and Liberty Ch.

Evidence of the local economy is seen in the numerous Landing Strip locations, likely serving aerial crop-dusting operations, and a specialized Fish Farm in the southwest. Historical landmarks like Cummins Bar and Yellow Banks along the riverbanks highlight the shifting nature of the river before modern stabilization. This record captures a moment when traditional river navigation and small-town landmarks like Black Oak persisted alongside modern commercial aquaculture.