1959 Map of Great Bend NE

About this map

Great Bend serves as the focal point of this Kansas prairie landscape, situated where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and Missouri Pacific railroads converge. The map documents a mid-century period of expansion, with newer purple-shaded residential footprints pushing northward from the city center toward Barton Lake. The surrounding agricultural townships of Eureka and South Homestead are dotted with legacy rural infrastructure, including School No 45 and the Walnut Valley Cem. Waterways like Walnut Creek and Blood Creek define the drainage of the plains, while the local economy is evidenced by numerous Oil Wells and Claypits. Social and recreational life of the era is captured through landmarks such as the Drive-in Theater, the Golf Course, and several local schools like Countryside Sch and Jefferson Sch.