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1954 Map of Joplin

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Joplin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Joplin and the surrounding tri-state border region are captured during a mid-century period of established rail infrastructure and significant river management. The landscape is defined by the Neosho River and Spring River, which supported the industrial growth of regional centers like Webb City and Galena. This 1970s revision of earlier 1950s data highlights a transition toward modern water control, shown by the presence of Stockton Lake and Pomme de Terre Lake.

Transit networks are exceptionally dense here, featuring the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway and the Missouri Pacific Railroad weaving through the Cherokee Lowland. These routes connected the lead and zinc mining districts around Baxter Springs to larger hubs like Independence and Parsons. The map serves as a vital record of the Osage Cuesta terrain before further suburban expansion and highway development altered the character of these border settlements.