1968 Map of Ash Grove

About this map

The Blue Hills define the northern reaches of this north-central Kansas landscape, where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line follows the winding course of Bacon Creek toward the small settlement of Ash Grove. This late 1960s survey captures a transition between the elevated uplands and the fertile creek bottoms that supported early homesteads and communities. Several rural landmarks highlight the area's genealogical depth, including Bethany Ch and a series of burial grounds such as Patterson Cem and Spillman Cem. The map illustrates a network of townships including Orange and Battle Creek, with traditional transit routes like the north-south Trail connecting the drainage of Rock Creek in the north to Little Timber Creek in the south. The prevalence of Gravel Pits alongside these watercourses points to the local material extraction that supported the region's road infrastructure.