1893 Map of Great Bend

About this map

The Arkansas River defines the geography of central Kansas in the late 19th century, carving a wide arc through the prairie where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad established a vital transportation corridor. The settlement of Great Bend serves as the primary hub, surrounded by a grid of townships like Lakin and Buffalo. To the north, the massive depression of Cheyenne Bottoms and the winding course of Walnut Creek illustrate the area's complex drainage, while the southern reaches near St. John are marked by the presence of Rattlesnake Creek and the Missouri Pacific Railway. Grounded in an 1889 survey, the map captures the transition of the Great Plains into a formal agricultural landscape, complete with specialized features like the Salt Marsh and Salt Springs in the eastern townships, reflecting the diverse environmental characteristics of Barton and Stafford counties.