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1938 Map of Kirksville

Name: 1938 Topographic Map of Kirksville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1938
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1938

About this map

The Chariton River carves a winding path through the western half of this 1938 landscape, anchoring a rural network of small agricultural settlements and family-named landmarks. The city of Kirksville stands as the primary hub, showing a concentrated grid of streets and the Landing Field to its southeast. This pre-war era reveals a high density of rural schoolhouses, such as Illinois Bend Sch and Danforth Sch, placed at nearly every major intersection to serve a dispersed farming population.

Rail transport is central to the area's movement, with the Wabash and Chicago Burlington And Quincy lines intersecting the region. In the southwestern corner, the settlements of Gifford and South Gifford sit along the Chariton River, while the southern border features the early development of La Plata. Genealogists will find a wealth of burial grounds including Novinger Cem and the Shaver Cem, alongside numerous country churches like Mt Carmel Ch.