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1939 Map of Snowball

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Snowball
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1967
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1967

About this map

The Buffalo River snakes through the northern reach of this landscape, defining a terrain of deep bends and high points like Point Peter and Rollins Mountain. During the late 1930s, this portion of the Ozark National Forest supported a network of small, isolated communities and family farmsteads connected by winding mountain roads. Settlements like Snowball and Witts Springs anchor the map, while numerous rural schools including Juanita Sch, Blanco Sch, and the uniquely named Welcome Home Sch suggest a decentralized but active social life in these hollows.

Local history is preserved in the naming of topographical features and family grounds, such as Peter Cave, Arnold Bend, and the Hendrix Cem. The map illustrates a reliance on natural springs and creeks, with Magic Springs and Richland Creek providing vital water sources. The presence of Faith Mission and New Hope Ch reflects the era's spiritual foundations, while the various gaps and knobs, like McCutchen Gap and Chinquapin Knob, highlight the challenges of navigating this varied topography before modern highway development.