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1965 Map of O'Kean

Name: 1965 Topographic Map of O'Kean
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1993
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1993

About this map

O'Kean serves as the central hub of this agricultural landscape in Northeast Arkansas, where the Missouri Pacific railroad cuts a straight diagonal through the lowlands of Randolph and Lawrence counties. The territory is defined by a complex drainage network, ranging from the meandering Black River and Current River in the northwest to an extensive system of engineered watercourses like Beaver Dam Ditch and Conley Ditch. These ditches reflect the mid-century transformation of the delta's wetlands into productive farmland.

Local history and genealogy interests are centered around small settlements and family landmarks, including Sharum and Evening Shade. Rural community life is anchored by Eveland Chapel and Rickey Chapel, while the Black River State Wildlife Management Area preserves the natural character of the river bottoms near Big Slough. Smaller landmarks like Sorge Cem and the railroad siding at Giles Spur provide specific points of reference for tracing old homesteads and transport patterns.