1890 Map of Mt Ida

About this map

Mt Ida serves as a central point in this late 19th-century survey of western Arkansas, where the landscape is defined by the significant drainage basins of the Ouachita River and the Fourche La Fave River. The settlement pattern reflects the ruggedness of the Ouachita Mountains, with small communities like Olio, Gravelly Hill, and Oden established primarily along the creek valleys that cut between massive ridges. Topographical detail by H. B. Blair highlights the formidable heights of Petit Jean Mountain and White Oak Mountain, which dictated the early road networks and rural boundaries. Local industry and mineral interests are suggested by locations like Silver City and Sulphur Springs, while the isolation of high peaks like Buck Knob illustrates the wilderness character of the region during this era of frontier transition.