1886 Map of Stockton

About this map

The Stockton township and its surrounding river valleys are captured here in the mid-1880s, revealing a landscape defined by the winding course of the Sac River and its major tributary, the Little Sac River. This period shows the rural development of Cedar, Saint Clair, and Hickory counties before modern reservoirs transformed the drainage basins. The Kansas City Clinton and Springfield R. R. cuts through the eastern portion of the map, anchoring rail-dependent settlements like Humansville and Fair Play. Away from the tracks, the economy remains tied to the water, evidenced by Johnson's Mill on the lower Sac. Dozens of small post offices and communities such as Jericho, Roscoe, and Dunnegan Springs are shown along the complex network of creeks including Turkey Creek and Horse Creek, providing a detailed look at the settlement patterns of southwest Missouri during this era of agricultural expansion.