1945 Map of Cherokee

About this map

Strip Mines dominate the southeastern quadrant of this landscape, illustrating the intensive coal extraction industry that shaped the economy of Crawford and Cherokee Counties during the mid-1940s. A dense network of rail lines, including the St Louis San Francisco RR and the Missouri Kansas Texas RR, crisscrosses the terrain to serve mining hubs like Cherokee, Weir, and Scammon. The map reveals a highly organized rural society, with one-room schoolhouses such as Cyclone Sch, Harmony Sch, and Skidmore Sch 19 placed at regular intervals for the farming and mining families. Local landmarks like the County Farm and State Quail Farm appear alongside numerous cemeteries, including Cherokee City Cem and Sacred Heart Cem, providing a detailed record of the region's civic and genealogical history at the end of the war years.