1960 Map of Poplar Bluff

About this map

The Ozark Mountains and the alluvial plains of the Missouri Bootheel meet in this mid-century survey, revealing a landscape defined by significant timber resources and river drainage systems. The heavily forested western reaches are anchored by the Mark Twain National Forest and the Eleven Point State Game Refuge, while the eastern portion transitions into the managed waterways of the Mississippi embayment. Strategic water management is evident in the presence of Wappapello Lake and Clearwater Lake, alongside an extensive network of drainage features like the Main Ditch and Dudley Ditch. The transition between the high ground of Crowleys Ridge and the flat Grand Prairie dictated the paths of major rail lines, including the Missouri Pacific RR and the St. Louis-San Francisco RR, which connect regional hubs like Poplar Bluff and Paragould across the Missouri-Arkansas State Line.