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1959 Map of Joplin

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Joplin
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1959
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1959

About this map

Industrial activity and interstate connectivity define this 1959 portrait of the Tri-State area. The intensive presence of Lead and Zinc Mines around Joplin, Webb City, and Carterville reveals the mineral wealth that fueled the region's growth, while Coal Mines dot the landscape further north. Educational institutions such as Kansas State College and Missouri Southern State College anchor the larger settlements, reflecting the mid-century development of the local communities.

Transport networks are prominent, featuring the famous U.S. Highway 66 and a dense web of rail lines including the St. Louis-San Francisco Ry and the Missouri-Kansas-Texas RR. The terrain transitions from the edges of the Flint Hills in the west toward the Ozark Plateau in the east, drained by the Neosho River and Spring River. Military and recreational landmarks like Camp Clark and Roaring River State Park offer additional points of interest for local historians.