1942 Map of Jefferson City

About this map

The Missouri River corridor anchors this 1942 survey, revealing the capital's mid-century footprint and its reliance on river and rail transport. Jefferson City sits on the southern bluffs, while the north bank is dominated by the floodplains of Cedar City and North Jefferson. This era shows a landscape heavily influenced by state institutions and transit, from the State Prison Farm and Algoa Reformatory to the critical junction of the Missouri Pacific railroad. The map captures the infrastructure of the pre-interstate era, featuring the Jefferson City Airport and original alignments of Highway 54 and Highway 63. To the north and south, the terrain breaks into wooded drainages like Cedar Creek and the Moreau River, dotted with rural schoolhouses like Oak Grove Sch and Halifax Sch that served the outlying farming communities of Guthrie and Summit townships.