1889 Map of Morrilton No. 3

About this map

Petit Jean Mountain dominates the southern half of this landscape, its steep escarpments rising sharply from the river valley. Surveyed by the Geological Survey of Arkansas under Henry Gannett, this map documents the area during a period when the economy was tied closely to the fertile lands of Gardens Bottoms and the meandering course of Petit Jean Creek. The topographical detail captures the dramatic drop of Cedar Falls and the isolated drainage basins of Cedar Creek, while the northern section reveals the early footprint of Atkins along the established rail line. Small upland settlements such as Ada and Divide are positioned on higher ground, overlooking a network of water features including Half Moon Lake and Cypress Lake, which mark the shifts in the river's historic floodplain.