Loading map...

1917 Map of Knobnoster

Name: 1917 Topographic Map of Knobnoster
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

The Missouri Pacific railroad anchors the southern and northern corridors of this central Missouri landscape, connecting the towns of Knobnoster and Montserrat along the southern line and Concordia to the north. Surveyed in 1915, the map reveals a dense network of rural schoolhouses that served the scattered farmstead communities, including Hazel Dell School, Walkenhorst School, and Ebenezer School. The Blackwater River and its managed Drainage Ditch bifurcate the terrain, reflecting early 20th-century efforts to reclaim fertile bottomlands for agriculture.

Local landmarks such as Cooks Knob and the small settlements of Ernestville and Valley City provide precise points for genealogical research. The map captures the region at a moment of transition, showing the intersection of traditional watercourse boundaries and the emerging grid of the Missouri Pacific (Branch) lines. Researchers can trace the proximity of family holdings to features like Peavine Creek and Little Walnut Creek, or locate now-vanished institutions like Neff School and Countyline School along the Lafayette and Johnson County lines.