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1940 Map of Woodson

Name: 1940 Topographic Map of Woodson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1945
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1945

About this map

The Arkansas River meanders through the heart of this 1940-era landscape, defining a terrain of oxbow lakes, bayous, and alluvial lowlands. The river's influence is clear in the massive Old River Lake and the complex drainage of Pennington Bayou and Fourche Bayou. This period shows a cluster of agricultural and social centers along the Missouri Pacific railroad line, including the communities of Wrightsville, Woodson, and Hensley.

Social and educational life in this part of Pulaski County is marked by numerous country churches, such as Virginia Ch, Do Right Ch, and Cephas Ch, as well as the Nelson Sch. Of particular note is the State Industrial School located east of the rail line. The map also records early infrastructure like the Gillette Levee and the Arch St Pike Cutoff, which provide insight into how the region managed the frequent shifts and flooding of the river system.