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1956 Map of Little Rock

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Little Rock
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

Little Rock and its surrounding river valley anchor this mid-century survey, which reveals the intense intersection of military infrastructure and industrial growth in Central Arkansas. The landscape is defined by the Arkansas River and the transition from the steep ridges of the Ouachita Mountains in the west to the alluvial plains toward Pine Bluff. Key Cold War-era installations are prominent, including Little Rock Air Force Base, Camp Joseph T Robinson, and the Pine Bluff Arsenal, signaling the region's strategic importance during the 1950s.

Transportation networks are well-developed, with the Missouri Pacific and Chicago Rock Island & Pacific railroads supporting regional industry, particularly in towns like Bauxite. The map also details the recreational and conservation geography of the era, from the Ouachita National Forest and Lake Winona to historic sites like Jenkins Ferry Battlefield State Park. Numerous small settlements such as Mabelvale, Redfield, and Prattsville are visible, providing a clear record of the rural-to-urban settlement patterns before later suburban expansion.