Loading map...

1893 Map of Little Rock

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Little Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1893
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1893

About this map

Little Rock and Argenta serve as the central hubs of this 1890s survey, where the Arkansas River dictates the landscape and economy. The region is defined by a heavy concentration of rail infrastructure, including the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad and the Memphis and Little Rock Railroad, which connect the capital to outlying settlements like Marche (Warren) and Mayflower. The map captures a transition from the rising industrial centers to the fertile lowlands of the east and the high ridges of the west, such as Shinall Mountain and Big Rock Mt.

Cultural and archaeological history is prominent, evidenced by the Indian Mounds near Toltec and Indian Mound south of the city. Waterways like Bayou Meto and Fourche or Granite Mountain highlight the natural drainage patterns of Pulaski County before modern levee and drainage systems significantly altered the basin. Smaller communities and rural landings, including Reed Landing and Sweet Home, offer a glimpse into the localized river commerce and early settlement clusters that predate the modern metropolitan expansion.