1981 Map of Boiling Spring

About this map

The Calamus River meanders across this northern Nebraska landscape, marking the intersection of four counties: Brown, Rock, Loup, and Blaine. This map, based on 1970s field data, illustrates the specialized ranching economy of the Sandhills. Large family operations such as Bain Ranch and Easy Hour Ranch define the land use, centered around critical water sources like the eponymous Boiling Spring. A Flowing Well and several other wells emphasize the importance of groundwater in this semi-arid environment. Further downstream, the Big Bend Ranch occupies a prominent curve in the river, while the presence of a Claypit and the southern Spencer Ranch indicate varied land resources and longstanding agricultural boundaries in this sparsely populated interior.