2022 Map of Venango

About this map

Terra Cotta and Arcola represent the dispersed settlement pattern of this rural landscape along the boundary of Ellsworth and Saline counties. The terrain is defined by the drainage basins of W Spring Creek and Wiley Creek, which carve into the plains before reaching the northern reaches of Kanopolis Lake. Near the southern edge of the map, the community of Venango sits just above the lake's shoreline, connected by a network of section-line roads like Corner Road and Avenue Q. Local history is preserved at sites such as Terra Cotta Cemetery and Summit Cemetery, while the prominent elevation at Buzzard Roost provides a clear landmark overlooking the creek beds. This modern topographic survey illustrates how historical place names persist even as the surrounding prairie is managed for agricultural use and water conservation.