Loading map...

1955 Map of Great Bend

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Great Bend
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1966
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1966

About this map

The Arkansas River and Smoky Hill River define the hydraulic character of Central Kansas in this mid-century survey. Major regional centers such as Hays, Great Bend, and Larned are shown during a period of significant infrastructural development, particularly in water management and energy production. The presence of numerous Oil Field symbols across Barton County, Russell County, and Ellis County highlights the intense petroleum activity that fueled the local economy. Large-scale reservoirs, including Wilson Reservoir and Kanopolis Reservoir, appear alongside natural features like the Salt Marsh within the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge.

Transportation networks are heavily represented by the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe RR and the Union Pacific RR, which trace the paths of early migration and trade. Historic landmarks like Pawnee Rock and Round Mound serve as anchors for local genealogy and history, while smaller settlements like Olmitz, Odin, and Bushton show the distribution of rural communities before the consolidation of the late 20th century.