1886 Map of Springfield

About this map

Springfield sits at the crossroads of a growing transportation network in the late nineteenth century, serving as the hub for the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad and the Kansas City and Scott Railroad. The map reveals the early township structures across Greene, Christian, and Polk counties, where rural life revolved around dispersed settlements like Cave Spring, Fair Grove, and Pleasant Hope. Beyond the rail lines, the landscape is defined by the drainage systems of Wilson Creek, Pierson Creek, and the North Dry Sac Creek, which shaped the placement of early homesteads and mills. The inclusion of smaller communities such as Ebenezer, Stafford, and Republic provides a detailed look at the region’s development before modern expansion. Genealogists can trace the specific locations of long-standing crossroads like Morrisville and Henderson during a period of significant post-war growth in Southwest Missouri.