2009 Map of Buttermilk

About this map

Buttermilk sits at a crossroads in the southern Kansas prairie, a landscape defined more by its hydrologic network than by dense settlement. This 2009 survey by the U.S. Geological Survey captures the rural character of Comanche County, where the sprawling path of the Salt Fork Arkansas River cuts across the northern reaches. The area is dissected by numerous drainages, most notably Sheele Creek and Anderson Creek, which weave through the terrain and suggest the agricultural reliance on these seasonal water sources. The grid-like road system is superimposed over this winding natural drainage, reflecting the methodical land division of the Great Plains. For those researching local geography, the map provides a clear look at how the small community of Buttermilk serves as a lone anchor point amidst the wide-open ranching or farming tracts of the region.