1974 Map of Rolla SE

About this map

Rolla and the high plains of Morton County are captured in this mid-1970s survey, illustrating a landscape defined by industrial development and energy extraction. The map documents an extensive network of Pipeline corridors and dozens of Gas Wells that punctuate the terrain, reflecting the region's mid-century economic shift toward petroleum and natural gas. In the northwest corner, the town of Rolla is situated alongside the C R I & P railroad, which served as a vital transportation link for this corner of Kansas. The topography transitions south across the border between Kansas and Oklahoma, where the infrastructure of the energy industry continues with a Compressor Station and Radio Tower. The inclusion of the Voorhees area provides a glimpse into the spatial organization of the rural townships just before the late 20th-century expansion of modern agricultural techniques.