1990 Map of Garnett

About this map

The Neosho River and Marais des Cygnes River systems define the geography of this east-central Kansas landscape, where the prairie meets the expanding water resources of the late 20th century. By 1990, the region had been transformed by significant engineering projects including the John Redmond Reservoir, Melvern Lake, and the cooling waters of Wolf Creek Reservoir. These reservoirs sit alongside long-established rail corridors, including the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and the Missouri Pacific Railroad, which historically linked agricultural hubs like Garnett, Burlington, and Westphalia. The map preserves the locations of smaller rural communities such as the historic French-settlement site of Silkville and the town of Williamsburg. Large conservation areas like the Otter Creek State Wildlife Area flank the major water bodies, while the high point at Blue Mound stands out in the southeastern corner, overlooking the network of creeks that feed the Little Osage River.