1985 Map of Ulysses

About this map

Ulysses serves as a central hub in this mid-1980s portrait of High Plains agricultural and industrial life across southwestern Kansas. The landscape is defined by the heavy presence of the Gas Field, which stretches across multiple counties including Grant and Stanton. Along the northern corridor, the Arkansas River is flanked by an extensive network of irrigation infrastructure, including the Alamo Ditch, Aubrey Ditch, and Southside Ditch, which supported the region's ranching and farming operations. The heavy transit infrastructure of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad tracks the river's path, connecting settlements like Syracuse, Kendall, and Lakin. Further south, the landscape is more sparsely settled, characterized by the winding path of Bear Creek and the long, straight reaches of the Sullivans Track and Columbian Track, illustrating the grid-based expansion typical of this prairie era.