1980 Map of Tilton

About this map

Tilton and the surrounding agricultural lowlands of Woodruff County are defined by a complex network of wetlands and water management features. The landscape is marked by the winding course of Bayou De View and the St Louis Southwestern railroad, which together dictated the settlement patterns of the late 20th century. Local history is anchored by rural centers like Pumpkin Bend and Morton, where the Church of God and Morton Cem serve as long-standing community landmarks. The map documents an intricate hydrology where natural remnants like Old Channel Straight Lake and Little Cow Lake persist alongside the engineered Cow Lake Ditch. This geography highlights the transition from natural bottomlands to an organized grid of farms and irrigation wells, reflecting the era's reliance on both rail transport and water control for regional commerce.