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1909 Map of Winding Stair

Name: 1909 Topographic Map of Winding Stair
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1960
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1960

About this map

Winding Stair Mountain and the Kiamichi Mountain range dominate the landscape of the Choctaw Nation's historical territory in this survey, reflecting the area's development before Oklahoma's early statehood years. The northern corridor is defined by a dense network of early rail infrastructure, where the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and the Kansas City Southern intersect at Howe and Wister. These rail lines supported a string of early settlements like Fanshawe, Leflore, and Heavener, which served as vital collection points for the region's timber and agricultural output.

South of the high ridges, the Kiamichi River and Fourche Maline carve through the terrain, providing the primary drainage for the Ouachita National Forest. The map captures a transition from industrial rail towns in the north to more isolated mountain communities such as Muse, Octavia, and Ludlow. These settlements, often situated along watercourses like Big Eagle Cr or Billy Cr, reveal the traditional upland settlement patterns that predated modern highway development.