1973 Map of Shirley

About this map

The Little Middle Fork Red River carves a deep valley through this portion of the Ozark foothills, centering on the town of Shirley. In the early 1970s, the landscape reflects a transition from traditional upland farming and timbering toward recreational development, notably seen at Fairfield Bay. The infrastructure of an earlier era is visible in the Old Railroad Grade that follows the river's winding course, passing the Gaging Station and the Collins Cemetery. To the north, higher elevations like John Henry Mountain and Payne Mountain dominate the terrain, separated by narrow hollows such as Bat Cave Hollow and Moccasin Hollow. Genealogists will find numerous family-named landmarks and local burial sites, including the Settlement Cemetery and Rushing Cemetery near the community of Rushing, which also features a prominent Lookout Tower.