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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 confluence of the Kansas River and Wakarusa River defines the landscape surrounding Lawrence, a hub of transit and commerce where the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe RR and Union Pacific RR intersect. This mid-1970s revision captures the region's hydraulic evolution, showcasing the expansion of Clinton Lake and the John Redmond Reservoir within the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge. Cold War-era infrastructure is prominent at Forbes AFB and the Sunflower Ordnance Works, reflecting the era's strategic footprint.

Extending into Missouri, the map traces the Marais des Cygnes River and South Grand River through centers like Harrisonville and Butler. The terrain is marked by distinctive elevations such as Graves Mound and Valley Mound, while the economy of the southern sectors is evidenced by widespread strip mines. From the growing suburbs of Overland Park to the rail towns of Osawatomie and Paola, the sheet documents a transition from established agriculture to modern industrial and recreational uses.