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2016 Map of Blue Rapids

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Blue Rapids
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

The confluence of the Big Blue River and the Little Blue River shapes the geography of this Marshall County region. The community of Blue Rapids sits at the heart of the landscape, organized around a grid of streets including Main St and Valley Rd. This area has long served as a corridor for travelers, evidenced by the presence of Alcove Spring to the north, a significant stop on the Oregon Trail.

Settlement patterns are anchored by Waterville to the west and the smaller locality of Bestwall to the northeast. Local history is well-preserved through several established burial grounds, including Fairmont Cem and Prospect Hill Cem. The terrain is characterized by dissected uplands and drainage systems like Fawn Cr and Elm Cr, while Idlewild Lake provides a distinct water feature among the agricultural sections of the central Kansas plains.