1894 Map of Spearville

About this map

The Arkansas River carves a wide path through this western Kansas landscape, which was surveyed by W.H. Herron and R.M. Towson in the late 1880s. The region is defined by two major transcontinental rail corridors that facilitated the growth of local agriculture and trade. The northern route, the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad, serves as the anchor for Spearville, Wright, and Offerle. Meanwhile, the southern corridor is dominated by the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, connecting the settlements of Bucklin and Kingsdown. Between these rail lines, the terrain transitions from the valley of Coon Creek to the southern uplands near Mulberry Creek, showing the early township and range organization of Ford and Hodgeman counties. The map captures the area before modern irrigation, when life centered strictly on river access and the reliable steam locomotive.