1940 Map of Williamsville

About this map

The Black River defines the rugged Ozark topography of Wayne County, winding past Williamsville and the St Louis San Francisco railway line. This 1940 edition captures a landscape of small, localized communities and isolated rural schools, including Cromerstown Sch and Lower Tenmile Sch. The transition between Wayne, Carter, Butler, and Ripley counties is marked by timber and early recreation, evidenced by the Fire Tower CCC Camp and the Keener Cave Resort. Families and genealogists can trace deep local roots through small burial grounds like Sparkman Cem and Kearney Cem. Industrial activity is represented by the Barrett Mine in the north and the settlement of Milltown on Hurricane Creek. These details reflect an era of tight-knit upland settlements and a river-based economy just before modern infrastructure reshaped the region.