1953 Map of Belvue

About this map

The Union Pacific railroad corridor anchors the small settlement of Belvue in this mid-century survey of the Kansas River valley. Spanning the border of Pottawatomie and Wabaunsee Counties, the landscape is defined by the winding course of the Kansas River and its varied tributaries, including Vermillion Creek and the man-made Wamego Diversion Channel. Rural life is meticulously documented through a network of country schools and churches that served the surrounding agricultural community. Geocoded landmarks such as Wells Creek Sch, Arand Sch, and Greenwood Sch are captured alongside the St Johns Ch and its namesake St Johns Cem. The terrain rises from the river bottoms into the southern hills, where the Community Hall and Wells Creek Ch stand near the headwaters of Wells Creek, reflecting the established social and spiritual geography of the early 1950s.