1945 Map of Salem

About this map

Salem serves as the focal point of this mid-century survey, shown as the terminus for the St. Louis-San Francisco RR during an era when rail and road systems were still closely tied to the region's topography. The landscape of Dent County is defined by its numerous small schoolhouses and churches, such as Oakland Sch and New Harmony Ch, reflecting a decentralized rural community structure. In the northeast, the Meramec River flows near Deep Ford, while the southern reaches feature the beginnings of Montauk State Park along the headwaters of the Current River. A high concentration of family cemeteries, including Karns Cem and Carty Cem, provides a detailed record of the families who settled these hills and hollows like Smoky Hollow and Montauk Hollow.