Loading map...

1972 Map of Big Bald Hill NE

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Big Bald Hill NE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Birdwood Creek and its northern fork, Birdwood Cr, anchor this landscape in the Nebraska Sandhills where the borders of McPherson, Keith, and Lincoln counties meet. The topography is defined by the unique drainage patterns of the high plains, where numerous isolated water sources like Lawyer Lake and West Springs provide essential moisture for the region's ranching economy. This 1972 survey highlights a pattern of dispersed rural settlement, with several family-held operations including the Moriarty Ranch, Arendorf Ranch, and Rundback Ranch connected by unimproved roads.

Local civic life is centered on landmarks such as the Valley Rang Sch and the Valley View Cem, which serve the small population of families like the Seifers, whose land is divided into the Paul Seifer Ranch and Fred Seifer Ranch. The presence of multiple named springs and a Well at various points indicates the vital importance of groundwater in this arid prairie environment during the early 1970s.