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1955 Map of Falun

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Falun
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

Falun stands as the central hub of this mid-century Kansas landscape, situated where the Missouri Pacific railroad cuts through the southeastern corner of the quadrangle. The map captures a distinct era of military land use, with the northern and central portions dominated by the Smoky Hill Air Force Base Bombing Range. This sprawling facility is defined by its topographic prominence and varied terrain, including features like Soldier Cap Mound and Potato Hill.

Rural life outside the range boundary is marked by family-named landmarks such as Weston Hill and Cainer Dome, alongside the quiet Dry Creek Cem. The drainage patterns of Spring Creek, Ralston Creek, and West Missouri Creek illustrate the natural hydrology of Saline County before modern agricultural changes. The presence of the bombing range alongside established townships like Washington, Summit, and Falun reveals the intersection of mid-century national defense and traditional High Plains settlement.