1935 Map of Noble Lake

About this map

The Arkansas River dictates the life and layout of this delta landscape, winding through Trulock Bend and Brunson Crossing while leaving behind a complex network of oxbows like Noble Lake and Adkins Lake. Settlement follows the higher ground and levees, evidenced by the dense cluster of community institutions such as Mulberry Grove Ch, Cottondale Sch, and the Tabernacle near Hooker. The influence of the Missouri Pacific and St Louis Southwestern railroads is clear, connecting the southeastern outskirts of Pine Bluff to rural hubs like Moscow and Linwood. In the southern reaches, the winding course of Bayou Bartholomew creates a distinct terrain of brakes and sloughs, including Beaver Brake and Bradshaw Brake. Dozens of family-named churches and schools, such as Taylors Sch and Motleys Chapel, reveal the deeply rooted social geography of Jefferson and Lincoln counties during this era of flood control expansion.