1985 Map of St. Francis

About this map

The High Plains of northwest Kansas are defined here by a network of ephemeral watercourses and canyonlands, most notably the winding course of the Republican River and its many tributaries like Hackberry Creek and Burntwood Creek. The mid-1980s landscape reveals a settlement pattern dictated by the Burlington Northern railroad, which links the towns of St Francis, Bird City, and Atwood. The terrain is deeply incised by named breaks such as Devils Canyon and Dave Hersey Canyon, illustrating the erosional character of the region's drainage towards the northeast. Beyond the established town sites, the map documents a series of private aviation facilities including the Gilliland Landing Strip and Black Landing Field, reflecting the vast distances of the agricultural landscape. Conservation efforts are represented by the St Francis State Wildlife Management Area along the river bottomlands, while local industry is noted through numerous sandpits and quarries scattered across the plains.