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1948 Map of Leavenworth

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Leavenworth
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Missouri River carves a winding path through this mid-century landscape, separating the bustling city of Leavenworth, Kansas, from the rural bottomlands of Platte County, Missouri. This map captures a significant concentration of federal and military infrastructure, dominated by the Fort Leavenworth Military Reservation, Sherman Army Airfield, and the Federal Penitentiary. The river’s influence is visible in features like Harpst Island and the oxbow-adjacent Mud Lake, while the transportation network is anchored by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy and Missouri Pacific railroads.

Rural Missouri life is evidenced by small settlements like Weston and Platte City, alongside numerous country institutions such as the Hazelwood School and Todd Cemetery. The Kansas side highlights the growth of Lansing and Bain City, with the massive Kansas State Penitentiary Farm marking the southern river bend. Genealogists will find a wealth of family-named landmarks, from the Hawkins Cemetery to the Hund School, documenting the local community fabric of the late 1940s.