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1954 Map of Springfield

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Springfield
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

Springfield serves as the focal point for this mid-century study of the southwest Missouri landscape, where the urban center meets the winding river systems of the Ozark Plateau. The map documents a period of significant regional growth, centered on the campus of Southwest Missouri State College and the industrial activity near the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway. To the northeast, the terrain becomes increasingly complex as it transitions into the Mark Twain National Forest and the vast Fort Leonard Wood Military Reservation.

The hydrography of the region is exceptionally detailed, tracing the courses of the Niangua River, James River, and the Gasconade River. Smaller settlements like Bolivar, Marshfield, and Lebanon are shown at a scale that captures their relationship to the early highway system, including the iconic U.S. Highway 66. Rural landmarks such as St. George Church and Mount Comfort Cemetery provide essential points of reference for those tracing family history in the counties of Greene and Polk.