1891 Map of Larned

About this map

Arkansas River and the Pawnee River converge at the settlement of Larned, defining the central transportation and water geography of this late nineteenth-century Kansas prairie. The survey captures the transition from open frontier to a grid-based agricultural landscape, organized by townships and sections. Two major rail lines, the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad and the Missouri Pacific Railway, dictate the placement of smaller depot towns like Rush Centre, Timken, and Garfield. While the rivers provided necessary water in an arid environment, the railroads clearly anchored the local economy, connecting these rural hubs to broader markets. The terrain is marked by intricate drainage patterns such as Walnut Creek, Saw Mill Creek, and Old Maids Fork, revealing a complex watershed that shaped the early settlement patterns of Pawnee, Rush, and Edwards counties.