1974 Map of Gove SW

About this map

The Butterfield Overland Trail cuts a historic path across this High Plains landscape, following the southern reaches of Jerome toward the valley of the Smoky Hill River. The terrain is defined by the drainage systems of Indian Creek and Plum Creek, which carve into the tablelands of Gove County. In the mid-1970s, this area reflects a rural economy rooted in both traditional agriculture and natural resource extraction. The presence of the Missouri Flats Sch provides a waypoint for local history, while scattered Oil Wells, a Caliche Pit, and multiple Sandpits indicate the industrial footprint of the era. Extensive Feedlot operations near the river further illustrate the intensive land use characterizing the western Kansas plains during this period of the twentieth century.