2
WHAT ARE THE OZARKS?
WHAT IS LOVE? The theologian, parent, teenager, and bird dog enthusiast would probably all give different answers. Likewise, the geologist, sociologist, economist, and agronomist would probably give different answers if asked, "What are the Ozarks?"
A definition of the Ozarks necessarily involves geologic, topographic, ethnic, and cultural criteria as a minimum. No single characteristic makes the area unique. One other area, the Southern Appalachians, is similar in many respects, but differs geologically and topographically.
Before discussing the characteristics, a quick mention of the geographic boundaries of the Ozarks as a whole is in order. The boundaries are debatable and thus will be given further attention after we have had the opportunity of a more personal acquaintance with the area. As shown on the map, the Ozarks include the Boston Mountains of Arkansas and thus extend from the Missouri River to the Arkansas River. The question of the western boundary in Missouri and the southern boundary in Arkansas (do the Ozarks include Springfield, Missouri, and the Quachita Mountains of Arkansas?) should be debated in the spring when the blood has thinned and the hide thickened.
Major characteristics will be summarized in this chapter and discussed in subsequent chapters.
Characteristics of the Ozarks
Geologic. The surface rocks are predominantly old to extremely old with the once-molten oldest rocks exposed in the St. Francois Mountain core of the Ozarks centered in the Ironton area. Ozark rock formations in general slope away from this core. The Ozarks are especially well endowed with caves, sinkholes, large springs, and mineral deposits.
Topographic. With the exception of the northern edge, the Ozarks were not glaciated; this condition, combined with a long history of gentle uplift and erosion, results in a rugged topography, The ruggedness, or contrast in elevation between uplands and valley floors, is a more widespread characteristic than elevation above sea level. Although the highest point in Missouri is in the Ozarks at Taum Sauk Mountain south of Ironton, large areas are no higher than or are lower than some of the bordering areas outside the Ozarks.
Ethnic. The Missouri Ozarks were settled predominantly by a southern Appalachian stock, which in turn came from the British Isles. The northern and eastern portions were settled by German immigrants, and the French were the earliest major white immigrants in certain areas.
Cultural. The transplanted southern Appalachian stock retained an old British Isles Culture, including word use and pronunciation, mores, and music. In part, because of isolation in the New World, the mountain and hill stock has tended to develop a great variety of Protestant churches characterized by fundamentalism, autonomy of the individual congregation, and especially in the past, by ministry of the laity.
“the mountain and hill stock has tended to develop a great variety of protestant churches”
(Note Ozark apostrophe in Services’s!)
“It was an Indian word which is Maramec at the spring and iron works,”
Iron Works at Maramec Springs near St. James.