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1945 Map of Blue Springs

Name: 1945 Topographic Map of Blue Springs
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1955
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1955

About this map

Blue Springs and the surrounding Jackson County landscape appear here in the mid-1940s, revealing a mix of established rural agricultural patterns and significant industrial footprints. The most striking landmark is the massive Lake City Ordnance Plant in the northeast, which stands in contrast to the numerous one-room schoolhouses like Eureka Sch, Owens Sch, and Etna Sch that dot the countryside. The geography is defined by the winding course of the Little Blue River, which flows past the small community of Selsa and under the Chicago and Alton railroad tracks.

Genealogists will find a wealth of specific local landmarks, from the Lobb Cem to rural congregations at Fairmont Ch and Pleasant Grove Ch. The map also captures the early development around Lake Tapawingo and the operational Lake Port Independence Airport, illustrating the transition of the region as East Independence begins to push eastward along the Spring Branch Road and Pacific Road corridors.