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1951 Map of Atwood

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Atwood
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The South Platte River corridor defines the landscape of Logan County in the early 1950s, serving as the central axis for both agriculture and transportation. The small settlement of Atwood is positioned at the intersection of critical infrastructure, where the Union Pacific and Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroads parallel the river's path. This era of development is marked by an extensive irrigation network, including the North Pawnee Ditch, Springdale Ditch, and Schneider Ditch, which redirect water from the river and Pawnee Creek to support the surrounding plains.

Local civic life and early aviation are represented by the Columbine School and the Sterling Municipal Airport. The industrial footprint of the time is visible through features like the Gravel Pit and scattered oil tanks, reflecting the region's reliance on its natural resources. The presence of the Davis Bros Ditch points to the long-standing family-managed water rights essential to the High Plains economy during this period of the Missouri River Basin development program.