1955 Map of Santa Fe Lake

About this map

Butler County State Park and the adjacent Santa Fe Lake serve as the centerpiece of this mid-1950s survey of Butler County. The landscape is characterized by the meandering Whitewater River and Walnut River, which define the eastern portion of the quadrangle. The era's infrastructure is prominently displayed, featuring the construction of the Kansas Turnpike cutting diagonally across the prairie, alongside established rail lines like the St Louis San Francisco and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe. Local community life is documented through scattered rural landmarks, including the Indianola Sch and Lily Lake Sch, and small family burial grounds like Indianola Cem. Pockets of petroleum extraction are evident through several Oil Well and Oil Tank clusters, particularly near the southern and eastern river bottoms, reflecting the region's energy economy during this period.