1973 Map of Erie

About this map

Erie and St Paul anchor this Neosho County landscape during the early 1970s, where the winding Neosho River and its various tributaries, such as Fourmile Creek and Flat Rock Creek, dictate the geography. The region's dual reliance on rail and natural resources is evident through the tracks of the Missouri - Kansas - Texas and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroads, which cross the terrain alongside active extraction sites. Extensive energy development is concentrated in the Walnut Grove Oil Field, Erie Oil Field, and Mission Oil Field, marked by numerous oil and gas wells. Toward the southeast, the Neosho State Waterfowl Management Area preserves the river bottomlands near several local landmarks, including St Francis Cem and Hope Cem. This survey illustrates a Kansas river valley where industrial oil production and traditional agriculture coexist within the floodplain.