1958 Map of Bentley

About this map

Arkansas River bottomlands define the southern edge of this Central Kansas landscape, where the St Louis San Francisco railroad cuts through the small town of Bentley. The 1958 topography, later updated with photorevised urban footprints in the late 1970s, reveals a rural economy structured around water and transport. An extensive aqueduct and multiple pipelines crisscross the plains, indicating the complex engineering required to manage resources between the Harvey and Sedgwick County line. Local life is anchored by family-focused landmarks such as Bethany Ch, Grace Ch, and Enterprise Sch, while the presence of a Sandpit near the river and a prominent Water Tank in Bentley mark the industrial and municipal needs of the era. The meandering courses of Kisiwa Creek and Lakin Creek contrast with the rigid grid of section lines and the protective levee along the river.