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1959 Map of Great Bend NE

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Great Bend NE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The meanders of Walnut Creek and Blood Creek define the prairie landscape of Barton County as it transitioned through the mid-20th century. Just north of Great Bend, the map reveals a meticulously organized countryside where school districts and rural life intersected with burgeoning industry. Local education was rooted in facilities like School No 45 and Countryside Sch, while the regional economy leveraged the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and Missouri Pacific railroads to move resources from numerous Oil Wells and a local Claypit.

Cultural landmarks of the era are clearly visible, from the Drive-in Theater and Landing Field near the city's edge to the Hillcrest Memorial Park and Golden Belt Memorial Park. The infrastructure for water management is notable, featuring an Aqueduct and an Abandoned Canal, reflecting historical efforts to harness the plains' hydrology. This survey serves as a vital record for genealogists tracking family ties near Walnut Valley Cem or researchers studying the industrial footprint of clay and oil extraction in central Kansas.