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1965 Map of Mc Alester

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of Mc Alester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The ridge-and-valley landscape of the Ouachita Mountains dominates this mid-century survey, revealing a region defined by its timbered slopes and coal-mining heritage. Industrial corridors are anchored by the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific RR, which connects the major centers of McAlester, Hartshorne, and Wilburton along the northern edge of the mountain front. Small mining and rail towns like Carbon, Adamson, and Lutie populate this corridor, while the Kansas City Southern RR drives north-south through Heavener and Hodgen.

Deep within the southern forests, the Kiamichi River and Mountain Fork flow through a rugged wilderness largely encompassed by the Ouachita National Forest. The map documents the early accessibility of the region via State Highway 1 and US Highway 270, before the widespread creation of modern reservoirs. From the distinct geological formation of the Potato Hills to the recreational development at Beavers Bend State Park, the sheet captures the intersection of industrial extraction and natural preservation in southeastern Oklahoma.