1887 Map of Poteau Mountain #2

About this map

The Poteau River and Fourche River carve distinct drainage basins through this 1887 survey of western Arkansas. This landscape is defined by the sharp, parallel ridges of the Ouachita Mountains, including Poteau Mountain and Sy Walker Mountain. Early settlements are clustered in the valleys where water is accessible, with Cauthron and Gipson serving as focal points for the local population. Small creeks such as Widows Cr. and Darneal Cr. feed the larger rivers, illustrating the intricate hydrology that dictated the placement of farms and small communities like Shadley and Brawley. The map's topography, originally surveyed by the Geological Survey of Arkansas, reveals a network of landforms like Round Mt. and Burnett Mt. that isolated these early homesteads before the expansion of regional transit. Researchers can trace the early foundations of Scott County through these named landmarks and watercourses.