Norton County in northwestern Kansas is easiest to orient from the crossroads at Norton. US 36 runs through Norton and continues toward Almena, while US 283 provides the main north–south reference. Prairie Dog Creek follows a broad central valley across the same part of the county, and the North Fork Solomon River creates a second low corridor farther south. Together, those roads and valleys explain the county better than a simple list of town directions. High-resolution map files are available for download in the section below.
This article follows Norton, Almena, Lenora, Clayton, and Edmond across the supplied maps, with an elevation range of about 599 to 797 meters. WebP previews are available for quick viewing, and the matching high-resolution JPG files can be downloaded together in one ZIP for printing, classroom projects, or offline reference.
Table of Contents
Norton’s US 36 and US 283 crossroads organize the county road network
Norton sits near the center of the county at the intersection of US 36 and US 283. US 36 leads toward Almena and provides the most direct east–west reference, while US 283 links Norton with the southern interior. Norton County’s official website identifies the city as the county seat and a regional service center for northwestern Kansas.
Almena is closely tied to the US 36 corridor. Lenora belongs to the southern part of the county, Clayton is near the western side, and Edmond lies south of Norton. Long stretches of farmland and rural roads separate the communities, so the county reads as several small settlement areas rather than one continuous built-up corridor.
K-261 provides the local road connection from the Norton area toward Prairie Dog State Park and Keith Sebelius Reservoir. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks gives directions using US 36 west from Norton and then K-261 south, which makes the recreation area straightforward to place on the road map.
Almena is the closest listed town to Norton on the connection map
The city-connections map marks Norton as the hub with an index value of 2,689. Almena is listed at 523 and about 10 direct miles from Norton. Edmond is about 15 direct miles away, while Lenora and Clayton are each shown at roughly 17 direct miles.
Those index values are map reference values rather than current official population estimates, and the mileages are straight-line distances rather than driving distances. Almena’s connection is relatively simple because US 36 links it with Norton, while trips toward Lenora or Clayton use different local routes and may cover more road miles than the direct-distance labels suggest.
The county’s official history page names Norton, Almena, Clayton, Lenora, and Edmond among its communities. Their wide spacing matches the rural character visible throughout the general map, where creeks, farms, and long county roads occupy most of the space between town markers.
Prairie Dog Creek creates the broad central valley between Norton and Almena
Prairie Dog Creek is the strongest water feature in the middle of Norton County. It enters from the west, passes through the broad valley south of Norton, and continues toward the Almena side while collecting many smaller tributaries. North Fork Prairie Dog Creek joins from the northeast and enlarges the drainage network in the eastern half.
Sappa Creek forms a separate valley near the northwestern edge, with Rock Branch and Walnut Creek cutting into the higher terrain around it. Farther east, Big Timber Creek and Cactus Creek descend through the uplands between the Prairie Dog Creek system and the southern river country.
The North Fork Solomon River creates a separate major valley across the southern county. Elk Creek, Emler Creek, Sand Creek, and Otter Creek feed the river from surrounding uplands. This southern corridor is clearly distinct from Prairie Dog Creek, with higher ground remaining between the two systems.
This water image is intended for geographic reference rather than floodplain, navigation, water-quality, parcel, or legal-access decisions. Stream depth and flow can change, so current agency information should be used whenever access or safety conditions matter.
Relief from 599 to 797 meters highlights the higher west and lower eastern valleys
The elevation surface ranges from about 599 to 797 meters, with a mean near 716 meters. Higher brown and tan terrain covers much of the west and southwest, while the Prairie Dog Creek valley forms a broad green corridor through the center. Lower terrain becomes more extensive toward the eastern half of the county.
The North Fork Solomon River adds another long low band along the south. Higher ridges remain between that river and Prairie Dog Creek, so the terrain is divided into separate upland blocks rather than sloping smoothly in one direction. Sappa Creek also cuts a narrow valley into the higher northwestern surface.
Around Almena and the eastern rural area, many tributaries merge into broader low ground. West of Norton, the uplands remain more prominent and creek valleys tend to be narrower. Following US 36 from Norton toward Almena therefore provides a useful cross-section of the county’s west-to-east terrain change.
The elevation surface is generalized for county-scale comparison. It is not survey-grade or engineering-grade measurement and should not be used for parcel elevations, construction grades, drainage design, or legal boundary work.
Prairie Dog State Park connects the road map with Keith Sebelius Reservoir
Prairie Dog State Park is one of the county’s best-known outdoor destinations. Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks places it southwest of Norton on the north side of Keith Sebelius Reservoir and provides directions from Norton using US 36 and K-261.
The reservoir sits within the broader Prairie Dog Creek landscape and adds a major recreation feature to the county. Official park information mentions fishing, camping, and wildlife viewing, but the supplied water map does not show current reservoir level, facility status, or access restrictions. Those details should be checked separately before a visit.
Lenora and Edmond sit closer to the North Fork Solomon River drainage
Lenora and Edmond occupy the southern part of the county, much closer to the North Fork Solomon River system than Almena. Elk Creek, Sand Creek, Emler Creek, and other tributaries descend toward the main river and cut narrow valleys into the surrounding uplands.
The elevation image shows the southern river corridor as a long low band bordered by higher ground. Near Lenora the uplands remain relatively high, while farther east around Edmond the tributary valleys become more connected. The result is a rolling southern landscape rather than a featureless plain.
Following US 36 from Norton to Almena ties the road, creek, and relief together
Start with Norton and Almena on US 36, then look at Prairie Dog Creek crossing the same central part of the county. On the elevation image, the creek corridor appears broader and lower toward the east, which explains why the road network and drainage seem to converge around the Almena side.
Clayton and Lenora show a different part of the county. Western Norton County is generally higher and cut by smaller creeks, while the southern edge falls toward the North Fork Solomon River. Comparing one corridor at a time makes the geography easier to understand than memorizing map categories.
For posters, classroom prints, or presentation slides, use the original JPG files in the download archive rather than enlarging the web previews. Small road numbers, creek labels, town names, and the elevation legend remain clearer at the higher resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far is Almena from Norton on the supplied city map?
Almena is shown about 10 direct miles from Norton. Edmond is about 15 direct miles away, while Lenora and Clayton are each shown at roughly 17 direct miles. These are straight-line distances rather than driving distances.
Do Prairie Dog Creek and the North Fork Solomon River share the same valley?
No. Prairie Dog Creek creates the main central low corridor, while the North Fork Solomon River occupies a separate southern valley. Higher uplands remain between the two drainage systems.
Can the 599–797 meter elevation image be used for surveying?
No. It is a generalized county-scale terrain image for comparing higher uplands with lower stream valleys. Parcel elevations, engineering grades, drainage design, and legal boundary work require more precise official data and, where needed, professional surveying.
Map File Information
The archive contains the Norton County, Kansas general county map, city-connections map, terrain-and-water map, and elevation map as original high-resolution JPG files.
- Included Files: Use only the versions confirmed in the article and supplied images
- File Type: Use the confirmed download contents
- Intended Use: Printing, education, presentations, and map-based projects
Related Maps
Sources and references
- Norton County, Kansas official website — county government and local information
- Norton County: About Norton County — county history and community information
- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks: Prairie Dog State Park — Keith Sebelius Reservoir, park location, and recreation context
- U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line Shapefiles — county boundary and geographic reference data
- USGS National Hydrography — river and stream reference data
- USGS 3D Elevation Program — elevation and terrain reference data
Green Map creates custom-edited map images using open geographic data sources such as geoBoundaries, Natural Earth, OpenStreetMap, and government open data.
These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
