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1985 Map of Atchison

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Atchison
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

The Missouri River winds along the eastern border of this mid-1980s survey, marking the transition between the rolling uplands of northeast Kansas and the floodplains of Missouri and Nebraska. The landscape is defined by the coexistence of agricultural development and tribal lands, notably the Sac and Fox Indian Reservation and the Kickapoo Indian Reservation. Major transportation arteries like US Highway 36 and the Union Pacific Railroad converge on the river bluffs at Atchison, a regional hub featuring the Atchison Courthouse, Atchison City Hall, and the Amelia Earhart Airport.

Tracing the waterways reveals a network of creeks—such as Wolf River, Delaware River, and Independence Creek—that shaped the placement of early settlements like Hiawatha, Sabetha, and Highland. Local institutions such as Highland College and several family burial grounds, including Mt Hope Cemetery and Mt Vernon Cemetery, provide essential anchor points for genealogical research. The presence of the U.S. Military Reservation near the river bend further highlights the area's strategic importance in the regional river-and-rail economy.