2012 Map of Spica

About this map

The High Plains landscape of Thomas County is defined by the winding paths of the N Fork Saline River and S Fork Saline River as they cut through the section-line grid. Centered near the settlement of Spica, the map reveals a highly structured agricultural environment organized by an extensive network of county roads. These thoroughfares, ranging from Co Road I at the northern boundary to Co Road A at the southern edge, dictate the movement and settlement patterns across this stretch of Kansas. The contrast between the rigid geometric layout of the roadways and the organic, meandering courses of the river forks illustrates the enduring relationship between the region's topography and its 20th-century development as a rural farming hub.