1956 Map of Ellinwood NW

About this map

Cheyenne Bottoms State Waterfowl Refuge dominates this Central Kansas landscape, revealing the complex water management systems of the mid-20th century. Based on 1950s surveys with revisions from the late 1970s, the map illustrates the massive scale of the Cheyenne Bottoms basin and the engineering required to maintain its ecosystem, including the Inlet Canal, Outlet Canal, and various Floodgates. To the south and west, the terrain shifts into the agricultural reaches of Great Bend and South Homestead, where natural drainage is provided by Blood Creek and Walnut Creek. The map is particularly notable for its documentation of energy extraction, with numerous Oil Wells scattered across the township lines of Lakin. This intersection of heavy industry and environmental conservation defines the era's approach to the Barton County landscape.