1956 Map of Rays Crossing

About this map

The Little Blue River and its meandering tributaries, including Foreman Branch and Sulphur Run, define the rural landscape of eastern Shelby County in the mid-1950s. At the heart of this agricultural region lies Rays Crossing, a small community situated along the Pennsylvania railroad line, featuring Grain Storage Bins that highlight the local economy. The map reveals a high density of rural institutions, such as Township Sch and several country churches including Little Blue River Ch and Zion Ch, which served as social hubs for the surrounding farmsteads. To the south, the village of Blue Ridge and the hamlet of Meltzer sit near the winding Conns Creek, while the New York Central railroad cuts through the southwestern corner near Knightstown Village. Numerous gas wells dot the townships of Marion, Union, and Addison, indicating active resource extraction amidst the fields.