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1970 Map of Bertrand SE

Name: 1970 Topographic Map of Bertrand SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1972
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1972

About this map

Agricultural development across the Phelps County plains is clearly defined by the township and range grid, organizing the landscape into the townships of West Blue, Williamsburg, and Garfield. In the early 1970s, this area south of the Platte River was characterized by an extensive network of irrigation infrastructure, indicated by the numerous wells dotting nearly every section of land. The village of Bertrand anchors the southwestern corner of the sheet, where a local Radio Tower and the Burlington Northern railroad line mark the settlement's role as a regional transport and communication hub.

Rural life is further detailed through small landmarks like the Sandstrom Cem and the community at Westmark. The map reveals a transition in land use, showing how the local economy relied on both the railroad and a significant Pipeline corridor. These features, combined with the administrative boundaries of West Marshall and Laird, offer a precise record of Nebraska's mid-century rural infrastructure and settlement patterns.