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1942 Map of Valley Center

Name: 1942 Topographic Map of Valley Center
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1942
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1942

About this map

The Little Arkansas River meanders along the western edge of this 1939 landscape, defining the rural character of northern Sedgwick County before the mid-century expansion of nearby urban centers. The settlement of Valley Center serves as a primary hub, while smaller communities like Sunnydale, Kochi, and Vicksburg are connected by a dense network of sectional roads and competing rail lines, including the Atchison Topeka And Santa Fe and the Missouri Pacific.

Social life in the township is anchored by numerous country schoolhouses, such as Hosa Sch, Parallel Sch, and Park Sch, alongside community landmarks like Stearns Race Track. The map preserves the location of generational family sites, including Marble Grove Cem and Kechi Cem, as well as small rural congregations at Grace Chapel and Bethel Ch. This topographic study by J. P. Rydeen and H. C. Weathers captures the transition from a purely agrarian economy to one with emerging infrastructure, evidenced by the Oil Tanks and organized districts of Wichita Heights.