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1956 Map of Lawrence

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Lawrence
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The Kansas River valley and its surrounding highlands define this mid-1970s landscape, captured during a period of significant reservoir development and suburban expansion. Major water control projects are prominent, including Clinton Lake west of Lawrence and the massive Harry S Truman Reservoir to the southeast. These man-made features altered the drainage of the Marais Des Cygnes River and Neosho River, contrasting with the established agricultural patterns of the eastern Kansas and western Missouri borderlands.

Industrial and military footprints are visible at the Sunflower Ordnance Works and Forbes Afb, while the growing Kansas City metropolitan area expands through Overland Park and Raytown. Railroad networks like the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR remain vital infrastructure, linking long-standing communities such as Ottawa, Paola, and Harrisonville. The map also preserves the locations of local landmarks like Blue Mound and the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge.