1985 Map of Goodland

About this map

Goodland serves as the primary hub in this mid-1980s look at Northwest Kansas, where the High Plains are defined by the straight lines of the Union Pacific railroad and Interstate 70. This survey captures a landscape transition where the flat upland grain fields are deeply incised by the drainage systems of the Smoky Hill River and the South Fork Solomon River. Small rail-aligned settlements like Ruleton, Edson, and Brewster dot the corridor, each reflecting the region’s agricultural dependence and the importance of transit links to larger centers like Colby. Local aviation is well-represented through numerous rural facilities, including Renner Field and several private landing strips such as the Lowe Landing Strip. The map also details the township structure, including Voltaire and Itasca, providing a precise grid for those researching land ownership and genealogy in Sherman, Thomas, and Wallace counties during the late twentieth century.