1947 Map of Box Butte NE

About this map

The Niobrara River meanders across this high plains landscape, defining the character of the borderlands between Dawes, Sheridan, and Box Butte counties. This 1947 topographic survey, published decades later by the Bureau of Reclamation, reveals the early infrastructure of the Irrigation Canal systems that were vital to agriculture in the Nebraska panhandle. Beyond the river valley, the terrain is characterized by broad plateaus like Running Water and Mirage, dotted with numerous Windmills that served isolated homesteads and livestock. Rural education is anchored by School No 80, a critical landmark for local genealogists tracing family footprints in this expansive ranching country. The map captures the quiet, systematic development of water resources along Pepper Creek and the river, showing the transition from open range to a more managed agrarian landscape.