1981 Map of Big Lake

About this map

Big Lake State Park and the expansive wetlands of the Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge anchor this Missouri River floodplain survey. The landscape is defined by the shifting hydrology of the Missouri River and its various oxbows and drainage channels, including Little Tarkio Creek and Squaw Creek. The region’s agricultural and transportation backbone is evident in the straight-line grid of rural roads and the Burlington Northern railroad corridor, which connects small settlements like Bigelow, Fortescue, and Napier. Local genealogy is well-preserved through family-named landmarks and historical sites such as Tarkio Chapel Cem, Laukemper Cem, and Catron Cem. The map also delineates the Iowa Sac and Fox Indian Reservation Boundary, reflecting the complex historical geography of the border region between Missouri and Nebraska.