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1898 Map of Cottonwood Falls

Name: 1898 Topographic Map of Cottonwood Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1915
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1915

About this map

Cottonwood River and its South Fork define the settlement patterns of this central Kansas landscape, where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR follows the water's natural path through the valley. The map reveals a network of small agricultural hubs such as Strong, Elmdale, and Florence, each positioned to serve the surrounding Flint Hills cattle country. This period captures the region's transition from open prairie to a grid-based township system, with established communities like Cottonwood Falls and Lincolnville serving as focal points for trade and transportation.

Remote outposts such as Matfield Green, Bazaar, and Wonsevu are connected by wagon roads, reflecting the early rural economy before the full modernization of the highway system. To the west, the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific RR cuts through Lincoln and Clear Creek townships, supporting towns like Antelope and Burns. The intricate drainage of Diamond Creek, Middle Creek, and Cedar Creek illustrates the topographical challenges faced by early surveyors like H.S. Wallace during the original 1895 survey.