1886 Map of Greenfield

About this map

Greenfield and Mount Vernon anchor this 1884 reconnaissance survey of Southwest Missouri, reflecting a period of significant agricultural and rail expansion. The landscape is defined by the convergence of three major rail lines, including the Kansas City Clinton and Springfield Railroad and the Kansas City Fort Scott and Gulf Railroad, which spurred the growth of shipping points like Lockwood and Everton. Outside the larger town centers, the terrain is dotted with small family-named landmarks and rural settlements such as Sim's Point, Kings Point, and Yingst. Waterways like Turnback Creek and the Spring River provide the natural framework for these emerging townships. The map documents the early political boundaries where Dade, Lawrence, and Greene counties meet, illustrating the late nineteenth-century settlement patterns of the Ozark plateau.