1889 Map of Sedan

About this map

Sedan and the surrounding townships of southern Kansas appear here during a period of rapid westward rail expansion in the late nineteenth century. The Elk River carves through the northern landscape, while a dense network of watercourses like Caney Creek and Salt Creek define the rugged topography of the Chautauqua Hills. The map captures the significant role of early railroads in shaping these settlements, with the Denver Memphis and Atlantic Railroad cutting through the center and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad connecting northern towns like Howard and Moline. Local history is preserved in the placement of small communities such as Boston and Cloverdale, many of which were established as vital supply points for ranching and early commerce before the turn of the century. The southern edge is defined by the Kansas Oklahoma Boundary Line, marking the limit of the state just north of Elgin.