1955 Map of Hutchinson

About this map

The Flint Hills rise across the eastern portions of this central Kansas landscape, where the Neosho River and Cottonwood River drain toward the southeast. In the mid-1950s, the region was defined by a dense network of railroads including the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe and the Union Pacific, supporting agricultural hubs like Abilene, McPherson, and Newton. To the north, the Osage Practice Bombing Range No. 3 reflects the era's military presence, while the St. Francis Boys Home outside Salina serves as a notable local landmark. The map details the early development of significant reservoirs, showing Kanopolis Lake and Council Grove Lake, which altered the natural flow of the Smoky Hill River and its tributaries. This survey captures the transition from a rail-dominated prairie economy to one increasingly integrated by the growing federal highway system, including U. S. 40 and U. S. 50.