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1959 Map of Beloit

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Beloit
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

The South Fork Solomon River and North Fork Solomon River dominate the landscape of north-central Kansas during a period of significant water management. This 1959 survey records a pivotal moment for the region as the Kirwin Res and Webster Dam are noted as being under construction, infrastructure projects that would permanently alter the drainage of the Solomon River valley. These developments stand alongside a well-established agricultural and industrial footprint, characterized by numerous active petroleum sites including the Bemis-Shutts Oil Field and Kruger Oil Field.

Transportation networks are heavily defined by the competing interests of major railroads like the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and the Missouri Pacific. These lines connected grain-handling hubs such as Beloit, Phillipsburg, and Smith Center. The map also captures specialized land use, such as the State Sanatorium near Norton, and the distinct cluster of oil production in the south-central portion of the quadrangle.