1974 Map of Smyrna NW

About this map

Ben Hur sits atop the high ground in this orthophotoquad, which utilizes 1974 aerial imagery to show the rugged, dissected plateau of northern Pope County. The landscape is defined by deep drainage patterns where the Fork and the Bayou have carved winding paths through the timbered hills. Unlike a traditional topographic map, this photographic record reveals the exact extent of clearing for small farms and homesteads, providing a raw view of the Ozark back country before modern development changed the visual character of the region. The limited development at Ben Hur suggests a quiet, isolated community life centered on the winding ridge roads that navigate the complex network of hollows and ridges.