{"product_id":"old-map-of-manhattan-kansas-by-usgs-1950-kansas-state-college-kansas-river","title":"Old Map of Manhattan, Kansas by USGS, 1950 – Kansas State College \u0026 Kansas River","description":"\u003cp\u003ePublished in 1950 by the United States Geological Survey, “Manhattan” presents the city of Manhattan, Kansas, and its surrounding country at the exacting 1:24,000 scale associated with mid-century American topographic mapping. The sheet captures a community poised between prairie town, university center, and riverine landscape, with the populated core distinguished in pink and the surrounding terrain articulated through precise contour lines. Manhattan’s gridded streets, neighborhood patterns, roads, rail or transport corridors, and open lands are set within a broader framework of hills, valleys, and river bottoms. As both a scientific document and a portrait of place, the map records the city at a revealing moment in its postwar development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe United States Geological Survey brought to this map the institutional rigor that made its quadrangles indispensable to engineers, planners, geologists, soldiers, travelers, and local officials. Founded to study and describe the nation’s terrain, water, resources, and geological processes, the USGS developed a cartographic language that balanced clarity with remarkable density of information. On “Manhattan,” that language is especially effective: section lines and grid divisions help organize the landscape, while roads, drainage, buildings, and elevation data allow the viewer to read both human settlement and natural form. The result is a disciplined yet evocative depiction, where scientific measurement becomes a visual history of a Kansas city and its environs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the heart of the map lies Manhattan itself, home to Kansas State College, now Kansas State University. The campus appears as one of the defining features of the city, anchoring Manhattan’s identity as an educational and agricultural research center in the Flint Hills region. In 1950, the college was already a major presence, shaping the street network, local economy, and rhythms of urban growth. The map’s depiction of the institution and its surrounding neighborhoods offers a compelling glimpse of the city before later decades of expansion transformed its edges. For anyone interested in collegiate towns, regional planning, or Kansas history, this sheet preserves a formative stage in Manhattan’s modern landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe surrounding topography gives the map much of its character. Contour lines reveal the rise and fall of the land, marking the hills, draws, and valley slopes that frame Manhattan and distinguish this part of northeastern Kansas. The Kansas River runs as a major geographic presence, its valley shaping routes, settlement, and land use, while the Blue River adds another important hydrological feature to the scene. These waterways are not merely decorative; they explain the placement of roads, the openness of lowland areas, and the relationship between the town and its natural setting. The nearby locality of Shellard and other rural features further situate Manhattan within a working regional landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a historical document, the 1950 “Manhattan” quadrangle invites comparison with the city known today. Its pink urban areas show the extent of mid-century settlement, while the surrounding open land hints at future subdivisions, institutional growth, and changing patterns of transportation and land use. Parks, undeveloped tracts, rural roads, and sectioned farmland speak to a landscape still closely tied to agriculture and topography, even as the city’s modern form was emerging. The map’s combination of civic detail and physical geography makes it especially compelling: it is at once a record of streets and structures, a study of rivers and relief, and a snapshot of Manhattan, Kansas, at a pivotal point in its twentieth-century evolution.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCities, towns and places on this map\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eManhattan, Kansas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKansas State College (Kansas State University)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKansas River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlue River\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShellard\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAreas indicated by contour lines showing various elevations\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoads and transport routes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrid sections for navigation purposes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNeighborhood layouts within Manhattan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eParks and open land as indicated on the map\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHistorical context \u0026amp; cartographic details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMap title: \u003cem\u003eManhattan\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProduced by the United States Geological Survey\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePublished in 1950\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eScale: 1:24,000\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHistorical topographical map of Manhattan, Kansas, and the surrounding area\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe US Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the U.S. government that provides reliable information about the Earth, its resources, and natural processes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFeatures detailed contour lines to show elevation changes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUses a distinct color scheme, including pink for populated areas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShows varied topography, including hills, valleys, and river features\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOffers insight into the landscape and urban development of Manhattan, including urban expansion and land-use changes since 1950\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking for a particular place?\u003c\/strong\u003e Review the detailed images to confirm that the town, landmark or feature you have in mind appears on the map. If you are unsure, \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/es\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eask our workshop to check before you order\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDetailed maps are especially rewarding at larger sizes, where names, boundaries and decorative features have more room to be appreciated. Use the close-up preview and size guide to choose the right scale for your wall.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please \u003ca href=\"\/es\/pages\/contact-us\"\u003eget in touch\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model in the listing images is holding the 16x20in (40x50cm) version of this map.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere personalisation is available, you can add a short title or dedication, mark one meaningful place, or request one considered visual detail. \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/es\/pages\/map-personalisation\"\u003eSee personalised map examples\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEvery piece is printed to museum-grade archival standards using fade-resistant pigment inks on acid-free matte paper. Choose an unframed map print, framed map or canvas using the finish options above. Framed maps use crystal-clear optical acrylic and arrive ready to hang.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith its rich detail and strong sense of place, this map makes a considered gift for a new home, anniversary, retirement or anyone with a personal connection to the area shown. Still deciding? Explore our collection of \u003ca target=\"”_blank”\" href=\"\/es\/collections\/all-old-vintage-antique-maps\"\u003erare old and vintage maps\u003c\/a\u003e to discover another place, period or style.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Unique Maps Co.","offers":[{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Map","offer_id":58764536643968,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58764536676736,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"12x16in (30x40cm) \/ Framed canvas map","offer_id":58764536709504,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Map","offer_id":58764536742272,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed map","offer_id":58764536775040,"sku":null,"price":105.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"A3 (297x420mm) \/ Framed canvas 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