1979 Map of Bloom SE

About this map

The townships of Appleton and Center anchor this 1970s landscape in Clark County, defined by a branching drainage system that feeds the region's cattle and farming operations. The terrain is intricately carved by several waterways, including Bluff Creek in the northeast and the confluence of the West Branch Bear Creek and East Branch Bear Creek further south. These creek beds and various unnamed springs provided critical water sources for the early ranching era, while the presence of a diagonal Pipeline through the territory marks the mid-century infrastructure expansion into the Great Plains. The map's fine contour lines reveal a complex network of draws and breaks, such as those surrounding Hackberry Creek, showing the transition from flat upland plains to the more dissected valley floors that were essential for sheltered homesteading.