1957 Map of Poplar Bluff

About this map

The Ozark Plateau and the fertile lowlands of the Mississippi embayment meet along a sharp geological divide, dominated by the prominent elevation of Crowleys Ridge. This 1970s revision of a mid-century survey illustrates a complex hydrological landscape where the Current River, Black River, and St. Francis River flow toward the Arkansas border. Commercial hubs like Poplar Bluff and West Plains anchor the Missouri side, while the railroad corridor through Pocahontas and Walnut Ridge defines the regional transit network in Arkansas. The map captures the transition from the densely forested reaches of the Mark Twain National Forest to the managed wetlands of the Mingo National Wildlife Refuge. Traces of the region's agricultural and industrial heritage are visible in the many small river towns and the expansive reach of the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway lines.