Reynolds County lies in Missouri’s southeastern Ozarks, where Ellington, Centerville, and Bunker are surrounded by steep ridges and deeply cut stream valleys. Ellington provides the clearest settlement reference in the south-central county, Centerville lies farther north, and Bunker occupies the broad northwestern extension. The Black River system divides the eastern and central uplands, while the highest terrain is concentrated across much of the west and northwest. High-resolution map files are available for download in the section below.
This page separates those features into a general county map, a city-connections map, a terrain-and-water map, and an elevation map. High-resolution JPG originals of all four can be downloaded together in one ZIP for closer viewing, A3 printing, classroom work, reports, or other large-format reference use.
Table of Contents
Ellington and Centerville provide the clearest road references
Ellington is the easiest place to begin reading the general map. Routes 21 and 34 approach the southern part of the community, while Routes 106 and 603 provide additional links toward the west and northwest. The road network is not dense, but the concentration around Ellington makes the town a useful reference for the southern half of the county.
Centerville lies north of Ellington along the central road system. Route 49 runs through the area, Route 813 appears farther north, and Route 362 extends toward the eastern side. These roads bend through rugged terrain rather than following a simple grid, reflecting the dense pattern of ridges and valleys visible on the terrain map.
Bunker sits in the northwestern arm of the county and is closely associated with Route 72. The surrounding road network is sparse because the uplands are strongly dissected by small streams. The position of Bunker helps identify the county’s western extension, which would otherwise be easy to confuse with neighboring Shannon County.
The southern county includes Routes 21, 34, and 576, while the central corridor connects Ellington toward Centerville. The county boundary also steps inward and outward along the southwest, so it is useful to locate the three towns first before following the smaller roads near the edge.
Centerville and Bunker sit 14 to 21 miles from Ellington in straight-line distance
The city-connections map uses Ellington as its hub. Centerville is about 14 miles north of Ellington, while Bunker is about 21 miles to the northwest in straight-line distance. These measurements are direct point-to-point distances rather than driving mileage.
The map index labels Ellington with 1,057, Bunker with 336, and Centerville with 244. Ellington is therefore the largest of the three highlighted places, but Bunker and Centerville are important for orientation because they represent very different parts of the county.
Straight-line and road distances can differ substantially in Reynolds County. Roads must follow ridges, cross stream valleys, and wind through steep terrain, so a direct connector line should not be treated as an actual route. The city map is best for relative position, while the general map is better for travel planning.
Centerville helps identify the central-northern part of the county, while Bunker marks the western extension. Ellington anchors the southern interior. Together the three places provide a simple framework for understanding a county whose rugged topography can otherwise make orientation difficult.
Three Black River forks carve the northern and eastern valleys
The Black River system dominates the terrain-and-water map. The East Fork Black River descends through the northeast, the Middle Fork Black River crosses the northern interior, and the West Fork Black River approaches from the northwest. Their valleys become broader where the waterways converge toward the eastern side.
Upper Reservoir and Lower Reservoir are labeled near the East Fork Black River. Brushy Creek crosses the northern uplands, while Bee Fork lies below the West Fork. The close spacing of these streams helps explain why the northern part of the county is divided into so many narrow ridges.
Sinking Creek is a major central-southern reference, and Logan Creek cuts a long valley through the southwest. Bearpen Creek and North Fork Webb Creek appear farther south and southeast, while Sweazea Pond provides a small named waterbody near the southern edge. These features show that the county’s drainage is much more complex than one main river channel.
The terrain-and-water map is intended for geographic reference, not flood determination, depth analysis, navigation, parcel boundaries, or legal water boundaries. River stages, reservoir conditions, and local stream levels change over time, so current safety or recreation decisions should rely on the appropriate official source.
Elevation ranges from about 150 to 513 meters
The elevation map reports an actual range of roughly 150 to 513 meters and a mean near 288 meters. The highest dark-brown terrain is concentrated across much of the west and northwest, with additional high ridges in the northeast. Elevations near 500 meters make the county’s relief unusually strong compared with flatter parts of Missouri.
The lowest dark greens follow the East Fork Black River and the convergence zones of the Middle and West forks toward the eastern side. Stream valleys branch through the uplands like long green corridors, while tan and brown ridges remain between them. The water and elevation maps therefore match very closely.
The south and southeast are generally lower than the northwestern uplands but are still far from flat. Sinking Creek, Logan Creek, Bearpen Creek, and smaller tributaries cut repeated valleys between ridges. Around Ellington, elevations change quickly over short distances as the town sits within this deeply dissected terrain.
This county-scale elevation surface is useful for broad relief comparison, not for engineering, construction, drainage design, parcel-level elevation decisions, or survey-grade measurement. Site-specific work requires more detailed official elevation data or field surveying.
Use Ellington, the Black River forks, and elevation colors as reference layers
Start with the general county map when roads and settlement locations matter most. Ellington and Routes 21 and 34 provide an immediate southern reference, after which Centerville and Route 49 can be found to the north and Bunker and Route 72 to the northwest. The city map is faster when you only need direction and straight-line distance from Ellington to the two other highlighted communities.
For waterways, begin with the East, Middle, and West Fork Black River. Sinking Creek and Logan Creek then provide useful references for the central-southern and southwestern valleys. Moving to the elevation map afterward shows how those waterways occupy the lowest corridors between much higher Ozark ridges.
Reynolds County is shaped more by steep terrain and river valleys than by a dense urban road network. The general map shows how the small communities connect, while the water and elevation maps explain why roads bend and why travel between nearby points can be indirect.
The downloadable JPG originals contain more pixels than the WebP previews embedded on the page, making them better for enlargement, A3 printing, classroom handouts, reports, and personal reference. They remain general-purpose maps, however. Legal boundaries, property ownership, live road restrictions, flood status, reservoir conditions, and precise site elevations should always be checked against the appropriate current official source.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far are Centerville and Bunker from Ellington?
The city map shows straight-line distances of about 14 miles from Ellington to Centerville and 21 miles from Ellington to Bunker. Driving mileage is longer because roads wind through steep ridges and stream valleys.
How much elevation change is shown across Reynolds County?
The elevation map shows an actual range of about 150 to 513 meters with a mean near 288 meters. Western and northwestern ridges are highest, while the Black River system and eastern valleys occupy much lower ground.
Which waterways are the best starting points on the terrain map?
Start with the East Fork, Middle Fork, and West Fork Black River. Sinking Creek and Logan Creek then provide useful references for the central-southern and southwestern valley systems.
Map File Information
The download ZIP contains high-resolution JPG versions of the Reynolds County general map, city map, terrain-and-water map, and elevation map.
- File Type: JPG
Related Maps
Sources and References
Boundary and road reference data are supported by U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line, water features by USGS National Hydrography, and elevation data by the USGS 3D Elevation Program. Local recreation and Black River information is also available from Experience Ellington.
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data. These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
