Loading map...

1940 Map of Valley Ridge

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Valley Ridge
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

Crowleys Ridge rises above the lowlands of the Bootheel, providing a distinct topographic contrast to the surrounding drainage networks of the St Francis River. During the early 1940s, this landscape was defined by an extensive system of engineered waterways, including Otter Slough and numerous numbered ditches like Ditch No 15, designed to reclaim the fertile bottomlands. These waters were crossed by vital transportation links such as Higginbothams Ferry and the Wilhelmina Fagus Ferry, which connected rural communities before modern bridging was universal.

Rural life is densely documented through a network of small settlements and social centers. The presence of numerous country schools and houses of worship, such as Glennonville, Wilhelmina, and the Hopkins Sch & Ch, illustrates the localized nature of Missouri's river counties during this era. Genealogists can trace family footprints through various burial grounds, including the Sycamore Ch & Cem and Stephens Cem, which anchor the map's historical geography alongside the St Louis Southwestern RR line.