1958 Map of Potter

About this map

The Kansas City Southern railroad serves as the primary industrial artery through this section of Polk County, connecting the western edges of Mena with the smaller settlements of Potter and Potter Junction. The landscape is defined by the sharp transition from the level rail corridor to the surrounding peaks of the Ouachita National Forest, including Potter Mountain and Dallas Mountain. Local life in the late 1950s centered around numerous rural congregations and burial grounds, such as Bethel Ch, Gann Chapel, and the Mt Gillian Cem. Near the northern border, Lake Wilhelmina is a prominent feature with its Spillway 996, while a Quarry and Gravel Pit indicate the extractive activity occurring alongside the forested ridges. The map meticulously records family-named landmarks and small-scale infrastructure, from the County Fairground to the scattered cemeteries that anchor the local genealogy of the region.