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1953 Map of Belton

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Belton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Grandview Air Force Base stands as a prominent military installation during the early Cold War era, surrounded by the shifting rural landscape of Cass County. This 1953 field-checked survey reveals a region transitioning between traditional agriculture and modern industrial development, highlighted by the Knoche Oil Field and scattered petroleum infrastructure like Oil Tanks. The intersection of the Kansas City Southern and St Louis San Francisco railroads underscores the importance of rail transport to the local economy, connecting smaller hubs like Belton and Kenneth to the larger Kansas City network.

Local history and genealogy are well-preserved through numerous family-named landmarks and rural institutions. Settlements like Jaudon and Belvidere are documented alongside community anchors such as Mt Pleasant Sch and High Blue Sch. The map also meticulously records the locations of the Belton Cem, Bryant Cem, and Woodland Cem, providing essential data for tracing early families in the Mount Pleasant and Washington townships near the Missouri-Kansas state line.