1958 Map of Fontana

About this map

Fontana sits as a central rail hub in the late 1950s, where the St Louis San Francisco railroad cuts through the valley floor. The town's grid is established west of the winding Marais Des Cygnes River, a watercourse characterized by heavy engineering including a system of levees and spoil banks. This landscape reflects a mix of agrarian life and early resource extraction, evidenced by an Oil Field in the northeast and various gravel pits and quarries scattered throughout the townships. Local civic life is anchored by rural institutions like the Trinity Sch and Hawkeye Sch, while the presence of Miami County State Park and Hunters Lake indicates a transition toward managed recreation and conservation. The map also delineates the jurisdictional boundary between Miami Co and Linn Co, tracing the movement of smaller tributaries like Hushpuckney Cr and Middle Creek.