1949 Map of Erie

About this map

The Neosho River meanders through the heart of southeast Kansas, anchoring a landscape defined by its agricultural heritage and early energy development. This mid-century record documents the transition of the local economy, where established settlements like Erie and St Paul serve as central hubs for a dense network of one-room schoolhouses such as Independence Sch and Prairie View Sch. The proliferation of oil wells and a marked Oil Field south of Erie illustrate the region's industrial footprint alongside the persistent tracks of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and the Missouri Kansas Texas railroads. These rail lines once fueled the growth of smaller communities like Savonburg, Stark, and Walnut, while the numerous rural cemeteries, including St Francis Cem and East Hill Cem, provide essential anchor points for genealogical research in Neosho and Crawford counties.