Loading map...

1914 Map of Smithville

Name: 1914 Topographic Map of Smithville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1914
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1914

About this map

Smithville serves as a central hub on this 1914 survey, situated where the Little Platte Riv converges with the main stem of the Platte River. The landscape is a dense network of early 20th-century rural infrastructure, characterized by an exceptional concentration of one-room schoolhouses like Lone Star School, Buckeye School, and Martin School that served the surrounding farmstead communities. Transportation is defined by the intersection of the Interstate Trail and two major rail lines, including the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific RR.

Local industry is visible through the Hixson Mill and Ross Mills, indicating the importance of water power and grain processing in the local economy. Genealogists will find a wealth of specific landmarks, from Tiffany Springs in the south to the settlement of Edgerton in the north. The map meticulously records river crossings such as Mellon Bridge and Skinner Bridge, which were vital for connecting the scattered settlements of Clinton and Clay counties before modern highway development.