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1956 Map of Paola East

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Paola East
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Paola and the surrounding Miami County agricultural landscape are captured here during a period of steady mid-century development. The eastern portion of the town reveals a hub of community life, anchored by educational and religious institutions such as Ursuline Academy and St Patricks Sch. The map documents a rural economy transitioning from pure agriculture to include localized energy extraction, evidenced by numerous Oil Wells and a Gas Well scattered across the townships of Marysville and Middle Creek.

Transport and water define the region's geography, with the Missouri Pacific and St Louis San Francisco railroads converging near the town center. To the south, the Marais Des Cygnes River meanders along the border, fed by several tributaries including Bull Creek and Wea Creek. Local heritage is preserved in the smaller outlying settlements like Somerset and Block, as well as numerous country schoolhouses like Beaver Creek Sch and East Valley Sch that served the dispersed farming population.