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1892 Map of Bolivar

Name: 1892 Topographic Map of Bolivar
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1898
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1898

About this map

Bolivar and Buffalo anchor this 1880s survey of west-central Missouri, revealing a landscape defined by the winding drainages of the Pomme de Terre River and the Niangua River. This reconnaissance work by R.U. Goode depicts the region's early settlement pattern, where small hubs like Hermitage and Urbana served as vital centers for the surrounding rural townships. The map records several early industrial and community landmarks, including Parks Mill on the Little Niangua River and isolated post offices such as Charity and Greasy.

The intricate topography, mapped at fifty-foot contour intervals, illustrates how the steep creek valleys influenced the placement of early roads and towns. Notable prairie openings and small hamlets like Sentinel Prairie, Wheatland, and Elkton are clearly marked, providing a clear view of the area's development before the later 19th-century growth changed the rural character of Polk, Hickory, and Dallas counties.