1985 Map of Alliance

About this map

Alliance serves as the primary hub of this High Plains landscape in the mid-1980s, where the Burlington Northern railroad corridor dictates the placement of small communities like Antioch, Lakeside, Ellsworth, and Bingham. The transition from the structured township grids of western Box Butte County into the fluid, lake-potted terrain of the Sandhills to the east is striking. This eastern portion is defined by a dense concentration of water bodies including Jesse Lake, School Section Lake, and the Chain of Lakes, many of which sit within valleys such as Survey Valley and Hospital Valley. Landforms like Wild Horse Butte and Marron Hill rise above the flats, providing distinct landmarks in an area dominated by cattle ranching and sparse settlement. The Smith Lake State Wildlife Management Area and Alliance Municipal Airport mark significant public and industrial footprints in the region.