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1946 Map of Lesterville

Name: 1946 Topographic Map of Lesterville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1946
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1946

About this map

The Black River watershed dominates this mid-1940s landscape, where the Middle Fork, East Fork, and West Fork converge near the town of Lesterville. The settlement pattern follows the narrow valley floors and hollows between steep Ozark ridges, anchored by local centers like Centerville and Redford. The agrarian and timber-based economy of the era is evident in the high density of rural schoolhouses and family cemeteries tucked into the side drainages, such as Peola Sch and the Howell Cem.

Natural springs and small ponds, including Warner Bay Spr and Bowles Pond, dot the landscape, providing essential water sources away from the main river channels. The presence of Dobbins Mill on Mill Creek and the numerous named hollows like Middelton Hollow and Clay Hollow reflect a deeply localized geography. Most of the territory falls within the Clark National Forest, illustrating the importance of managed timberlands in the eastern Ozarks during this period.