1950 Map of Smithville

About this map

The Platte River meanders through this portion of Missouri, shaping the development of rural communities across several townships before the expansion of the Kansas City metropolitan area. At the junction of the Platte and Clinton county lines, Smithville serves as a central hub, while smaller rail-oriented settlements like Edgerton Junction and Sharps Station illustrate the importance of early 20th-century transportation networks. The landscape is densely marked with the hallmarks of a settled agrarian society, featuring numerous family-named landmarks and rural institutions. Genealogists can find a high density of burial sites including the Masonic Cemetery near Camden Point and the McComas Cemetery, alongside many one-room schoolhouses such as South Gale School and Lone Star School. Notable river crossings are preserved here, including a historic Covered Bridge and the Skinner Bridge, which linked these farming districts before modern highway developments changed the local character.