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1951 Map of Big Falls

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

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

The North Loup River winds through this section of Cherry County, marked by natural landmarks like Big Falls and Horseshoe Falls. This mid-century landscape is defined by its extensive ranching history, with numerous family-named properties such as Wolfenden Ranch, Boyer Ranch, and the Cloyed Carpenter Ranch scattered across the Gillaspie and Fern regions. The map reveals a remote but established rural infrastructure, evidenced by localized centers of education like Starr Sch and Dry Valley Sch.

Hydrography plays a critical role in this terrain, featuring unique landmarks like Flowing Well Lake and the Little Steen Marsh. Significant areas of flatland, such as Poole Flat and Prairie Dog Flats, provide contrast to the river valley. For the genealogist or local historian, the inclusion of transient sites like Carrier Camp and Starr Camp offers a rare look at specific occupational or seasonal settlements in the Nebraska sandhills during the post-war era.