1914 Map of Smithville

About this map

Smithville and its surrounding countryside in Clay and Platte Counties are defined by the winding course of the Platte River and the Little Platte River in the years before mid-century infrastructure changes. This agricultural landscape is densely dotted with neighborhood schoolhouses such as Stony Point School, Fry School, and Mt. Zion School, illustrating a decentralized rural education system. The region is a crossroads for multiple rail lines, including the Chicago Great Western RR and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR, which connect settlements like Trimble and Edgerton Junction. Local industry is tied directly to the water, evidenced by Hixson Mill and Ross Mills along the riverbanks. Early automotive travel is also represented by the transit of the Interstate Trail, while numerous bridges like Mellon Bridge and Skinner Bridge facilitate movement across the floodplains.