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1906 Map of Potosi

Name: 1906 Topographic Map of Potosi
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1906
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1906

About this map

Potosi anchors the landscape of Washington County in the early twentieth century, serving as a hub for the St L I M and S RR line that cuts through the northeast. This Missouri mining and timber region is defined by a dense network of river drainages and hollows, where small settlements like Belgrade and Caledonia are situated along the Big River and its many tributaries. The terrain is marked by prominent landmarks such as Little Pilot Knob, which overlooks a rural economy supported by local industry at sites like Hunters Mill.

The mapping reveals the administrative layout of several townships, including Liberty, Union, and Breton, illustrating how early infrastructure followed the natural contours of the Ozark hills. Dispersed communities such as Palmer, Sunlight, and Shirley are connected by winding roads through the complex topography of Bates Hollow and along the banks of the Fourche a Renault. These features reflect a period when remote mountain settlements relied heavily on local mills and the reach of the expanding railroad to connect with larger Missouri markets.