1957 Map of Beatrice West

About this map

Homestead National Monument of America anchors this 1957 survey, preserving the site of one of the first claims under the Homestead Act. The landscape is defined by the winding course of the Big Blue River, which is paralleled by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad as it approaches the city of Beatrice. The map captures a high density of rural institutions, including numerous schoolhouses such as Caldwell Sch, Dolen Sch, and Cedar Sch, alongside the Mennonite Ch. This density of named schools and the presence of the County Fairground and Beatrice Municipal Airport reflect a well-established agricultural community at its mid-century peak. Small settlements like Hoag and Glenover serve as rail-side nodes, while the township boundaries of Blakely, Midland, and Lincoln provide a clear genealogical framework for researchers tracing family lands in Gage County.