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1887 Map of Van Buren

Name: 1887 Topographic Map of Van Buren
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1887
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1887

About this map

The Indian Territory Arkansas Boundary Line defines the western edge of this 1887 survey, positioning Fort Smith as a vital gateway on the edge of the frontier. Across the Arkansas River, the settlement of Van Buren sits tucked against the Van Buren Hills, connected to its neighbor by a ferry and early thoroughfares like Van Buren Avenue and the Boulevard. The landscape is a network of early industrial and agricultural ambitions, characterized by a dense web of competing rail lines including the St. L. & S. F. R. R. and the Gurdon Branch M. P. R. R.

Rural life is anchored by a series of post offices and small settlements like Cavanaugh P.O., Zenobia P.O., and Enterprise. Topographical landmarks such as Bald Knob, Wolf Hill, and Donahoe Ridge rise above the drainage basins of Massard Creek and Little Vache Grasse Creek. This survey captures the region just before significant urban expansion, when the river and rail were the primary drivers of growth in Crawford and Sebastian counties.