1940 Map of Kansas City

About this map

The Missouri River and Kansas River confluence serves as the industrial and transportation anchor for this urban landscape just before the United States entered the second World War. A dense network of rail lines, including the Wabash, Missouri Pacific, and Kansas City Terminal, snakes through the central city, feeding the stockyards and the extensive rail infrastructure surrounding Union Station. This era shows the city’s civic expansion in full detail, from the landmark Liberty Memorial and City Hall to the sprawling park system along The Paseo and Ward Parkway. Residential patterns are clearly defined by numerous local institutions, including Central High Schools, Westport High Sch, and specialized facilities like the Manual Training High Sch. To the south and west, the character shifts toward recreation and established estates, featuring the Kansas City Country Club and the vast Swope Park.