1954 Map of Springfield

About this map

Springfield serves as the regional hub for the Ozark Plateau, anchored by major institutions like Southwest Missouri State College and Drury College. The post-war expansion of the 1950s and 1960s is evident in the development around Springfield Municipal Airport and the complex web of highways, including the famous U S Highway 66. To the east, the sprawling Fort Leonard Wood Military Reservation dominates the landscape, while the emergence of major reservoirs like Stockton Lake and Pomme De Terre Lake indicates the mid-century transformation of the local river systems for flood control and recreation. Genealogists will find a wealth of data in the numerous mapped burial grounds, from the large Springfield National Cemetery to rural sites like Mount Comfort Cemetery, providing a detailed view of the area's settlement patterns before later suburban growth.