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1956 Map of Whitmore

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Whitmore
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The St Francis River meanders through the heart of this mid-1950s landscape, defining the boundaries and economic life of St. Francis and Cross counties. The river's dramatic bends, including Gray Bend and Merriman Bend, frame a floodplain dotted with named oxbows like Kiechley Lake and Horseshoe Lake. The survey highlights a highly developed network of rural communities and social institutions, with Wittsburg and Madison serving as focal points. The map is particularly rich for genealogical research, documenting numerous small congregations and burial grounds such as Shiloh Ch & Cem and Harris Chapel Ch & Cem.

Transportation infrastructure is dominated by the Missouri Pacific railroad and historic thoroughfares like the Military Road. The transition from the delta flatlands to the elevations near Wittsburg Island is marked by unique landmarks including Pickens Point and various bayous like Blackfish Bayou. Settlement patterns are clear in the placement of numerous corners and places, such as Clarks Corner and Ursery Place, which reflect the localized rural identity of the era before major highway realignment.