1961 Map of Big Springs

About this map

The South Platte River carves a broad valley through the high plains of the Nebraska-Colorado border, creating a vital corridor for transportation and agriculture in the early 1960s. The town of Big Springs serves as a central hub, situated along the Union Pacific railroad and near the confluence of local irrigation systems like the Western Canal. This survey illustrates the intricate balance between the braided river channels and the surrounding agricultural landscape, where numerous wells are noted throughout the bottomlands. Regional education and community life are anchored by the Cottonwood Corner Sch and School No 30, while the Big Springs Cem sits just west of the main settlement. The presence of the Western Canal suggests the importance of water management for sustaining the Highland terrain and valley floor farms during this era of post-war development.