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1953 Map of Downs South

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Downs South
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The South Fork Solomon River meanders across this rural landscape in the early 1950s, defining the settlement patterns of townships like Ross and Corinth. This survey was conducted as part of the Department of the Interior's development program for the Missouri River Basin, capturing the region's transition into a more modern transportation era. While the Missouri Pacific and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads still dominate the industrial corridor, the presence of the Municipal Airport near Downs signals changing methods of transit.

Local life is anchored by small-town institutions and family-named land features. Researchers can identify rural landmarks such as Cottonwood Sch and High Prairie Sch, which served the outlying agricultural community. The map also meticulously plots small cemeteries, including South Solomon Cem, Corinth Cem, and Iowa Cem, which are vital for genealogical research and locating early farmstead burials along the banks of Indian Creek and Twin Creek.