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1955 Map of Beloit

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Beloit
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Solomon River and its major tributaries, the North Fork Solomon River and South Fork Solomon River, carve a distinct path across this mid-century landscape. This era represents a significant period of water management in north-central Kansas, as evidenced by the large-scale impoundments at the Kirwin Reservoir and Webster Reservoir, alongside the newly designated Glen Elder Res. These projects shifted the local economy from traditional riverfront agriculture toward the recreation and conservation seen at Kirwin National Wildlife Refuge and various state parks.

Prominent regional centers like Beloit, Smith Center, and Phillipsburg anchor a dense grid of smaller prairie settlements. The transport network is defined by a heavy rail presence, including the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and the Missouri Pacific railroads, which facilitated the movement of grain and goods between towns such as Lebanon, Mankato, and Norton. Looking closer, researchers can identify smaller communities like Cawker City and Almena during a time of post-war stabilization before further rural consolidation.