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1928 Map of Meramec Spring

Name: 1928 Topographic Map of Meramec Spring
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1928
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1928

About this map

The St Louis San Francisco RR cuts through the northern landscape of this 1920s survey, connecting the settlement of St James to the rail network as it passes through the township of Dillon. The topography is defined by the winding course of the Meramec River and its major source, Meramec Spring, which anchors a complex system of drainage including the Dry Fork and Little Dry Fork. This era shows a densely settled rural society where the landscape is peppered with one-room schools like Flat Grove School, Coffman School, and Zion Hill School, reflecting a period before the consolidation of rural education districts.

Industrial activity is evident near the Phelps and Crawford county border, where the Bronson Mine and Benton Creek Mine operated. These resource extraction sites, along with the numerous rural churches such as Mt Pisgah Church and Elk Prairie Church, suggest a community rooted in both local industry and traditional social centers. The map also records early regional transportation routes like State Highway No 14 and the Salem Road.