1959 Map of Hutchinson

About this map

Fort Riley and the sprawling military landscape of Central Kansas define this mid-century survey, which documents a complex network of agriculture and rail transport. The confluence of the Smoky Hill River and Saline River near Salina serves as a major hub for the Union Pacific RR and Santa Fe RR, while smaller agricultural centers like Lindsborg and Hillsboro anchor the surrounding farm country. The topography transitions from the plains into the distinctive Flint Hills, with water management clearly visible through features such as the Kanopolis Reservoir and Council Grove Lake. Transportation is dominated by major thoroughfares like Us 40 and Us 50, which connect established communities like Hutchinson and McPherson. This document provides a look at the region's infrastructure just as the interstate era was beginning to reshape the Kansas prairie, preserving the location of dozens of smaller sidings and rail stops along the Rock Island RR and Missouri Pacific RR.