1949 Map of Ashby

About this map

Ashby anchors the southern portion of this landscape, situated along the tracks of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad as it cuts through the Nebraska Sandhills. The area is characterized by a series of northwest-to-southeast valleys, such as Hospital Valley and Camp Valley, interspersed with numerous lakes and alkaline basins like Alkali Lake and Mother Lake. The settlement pattern reflects the cattle-ranching economy of the late 1940s, with widely dispersed operations including the JHL Ranch, Ferguson Ranch, and Diamond Bar Ranch dotting the terrain. This map captures a moment when rural education was localized in small district buildings like Ferguson-Becker Sch, Keller Sch, and Consolidated Sch, serving families across the Cherry County and Grant County line. The abundance of flowing wells and dipping vats printed here provides a clear record of the infrastructure required for high-plains ranching during this period.