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1893 Map of Great Bend

Name: 1893 Topographic Map of Great Bend
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1937
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1937

About this map

The Arkansas River carves a massive arc through this Central Kansas landscape, anchoring the settlement of Great Bend and providing a natural corridor for the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. To the north, the expansive wetland basin of Cheyenne Bottoms stands in sharp contrast to the organized agricultural grid of townships like Eureka and Homestead. In the southeast, a unique cluster of saline features including Salt Marsh, Little Salt Marsh, and Salt Springs highlights the region's diverse hydrology.

Industrial development follows the rail lines, with the Missouri Pacific Railway connecting smaller grain and trade centers such as Seward, Hudson, and St. John. This 1880s survey captures the region as it transitioned into a major wheat-producing hub, evidenced by the proliferation of towns like Ellinwood and Pawnee Rock along the steel rails. The detailed township boundaries provide a clear view of the early land partitions that shaped Barton and Stafford counties.