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1894 Map of Topeka

Name: 1894 Topographic Map of Topeka
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1913
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1913

About this map

The Pottawatomie Indian Reservation dominates the center of this late 19th-century landscape, providing a clear view of the complex land divisions between tribal territory and established townships. The state capital, Topeka, serves as the primary hub at the southern edge, where the Kansas River flows eastward. The region's development is defined by its early rail infrastructure, with the Union Pacific Railroad following the river corridor and the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad branching out toward Meriden.

Smaller settlements and rural post offices like Mayetta, Hoyt, and North Cedar are connected by a network of drainage systems, including Soldier Creek and Big Soldier Creek. Genealogists will find interest in the transition from the Agency within the reservation to the structured townships of Rossville and Silver Lake. This survey illustrates the era when steam power and river navigation dictated the growth of Shawnee and Jackson counties.