1890 Map of Moberly

About this map

Moberly and its surrounding rail junctions dominate this late 19th-century landscape, where several major transit lines intersect at the height of the steam era. Surveyed by H.L. Baldwin Jr. in 1887, the map illustrates how the Wabash Railroad, Chicago and Alton Railroad, and Missouri Pacific Railroad dictated the growth of settlements like Sturgeon, Centralia, and Renick. While the northern sections are defined by these steel arteries, the southern portion reveals a complex drainage network feeding into the Perche Creek and the Middle Fork Salt River. Local landmarks and small rural communities such as Dripping Spring, Middle Grove, and Hallsville are clearly situated within the larger boundaries of Randolph, Monroe, and Boone counties. The interplay of topography and transport is evident, with roads and tracks following the natural ridges above deep-cut branches like Grindstone Branch and Silver Creek.