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1950 Map of Kansas City

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Kansas City
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The Missouri River serves as the central artery for this mid-century landscape, winding between the burgeoning urban centers of St Joseph and Kansas City. The survey documents a dense network of major railroads including the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific RR and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR, which supported the region's agricultural and industrial growth. Significant tribal lands are clearly delineated in the west, including the Kickapoo Indian Reservation and Potawatomi Indian Reservation.

Beyond the river valleys, the map captures a transition toward suburban development and water management, evidenced by Wyandotte County Lake and Quivira Lake. The era's transportation priorities are visible in the contrast between the established rail corridors and the developing road systems connecting smaller communities like Savannah, Hiawatha, and Plattsburg. These details illustrate a region balancing its historical role as a river-and-rail hub with the early stages of modern sprawl.