Arkansas Geography & Economics – Object #7

Map of Arkansas

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<p>A map of Arkansas published in 1866, showing the primary railroads and railroad land grants of the state. Map includes major rivers, coal regions of the state, former county lines, and major cities.</p>

1866 Arkansas map showing land grant railroads, seats of land offices, and coal regions

Questions:

When was this map created?

Who created this map and what was the purpose of doing so?

Why were railroad lines and land grants placed where they were? Were they strategic in any way?

Why did the mapmakers include major coal mining areas of the state on their map? What was the purpose/reasoning behind this?

How does this map illustrate the effects Arkansas’s geography had on its economy?

Citations

United States General Land Office. Map of Arkansas, 1866. Library of Congress Geography and Map Division.