1951 Map of Norton

About this map

Norton serves as the busy crossroads of northwest Kansas in the early 1950s, where the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroads intersect. This survey illustrates a post-war landscape defined by its rural institutions and civic infrastructure, from the sprawling Norton State Sanatorium east of town to the Municipal Airport on the western outskirts. The drainage basins of Sappa Creek and Prairie Dog Creek dictate the settlement patterns, with small community centers like Calvert and numerous country schools such as Bunty Sch and Excelsior Sch serving the surrounding agricultural townships. Notable local landmarks like the Horseshoe Mill and Radio Towers south of the city center point to the diverse industrial and communications needs of the era.