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1950 Map of Smithville

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Smithville
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1950
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1950

About this map

Smithville serves as a primary hub where the Little Platte River meets the Platte River valley, anchoring a landscape defined by its river crossings and rural school system in the late 1940s. The area is marked by numerous family and community landmarks, including the Covered Bridge and historical crossings like Hixon Bridge and Rice Bridge. The settlement pattern follows a dense network of country schools such as Lone Star School, Stony Point School, and Prairie View School, which supported the dispersed farming communities across Preston and Platte townships.

Genealogists will find a high concentration of burial sites, from the Masonic Cemetery near Camden Point to the McComas Cemetery and Brasfield Cemetery. Transport infrastructure at mid-century included the Edgerton Junction rail hub and smaller stops like Sharps Station. Natural features like Tiffany Springs and Lake Remote further distinguish the terrain as it transitioned toward the expanding outskirts of the Kansas City region.