1949 Map of Box Butte NW

About this map

The Niobrara River winds across this late 1940s landscape, marking a transition in the High Plains where water management shaped the local economy. An Irrigation Canal diverts water from the river to support agriculture in the northern section, while numerous windmills scattered across the sections indicate a heavy reliance on groundwater for ranching. Along the border of Dawes and Box Butte counties, the map reveals a rural infrastructure of community gathering points, including the Dunlap Sch, Running Water Sch, and School No 100. Geologically and paleontologically significant, the area features identified Fossil Beds north of the county line, while the Katen Cem provides a specific point of interest for genealogists tracing early families in this stretch of the Nebraska panhandle. The terrain is defined by drainages such as Cottonwood Creek and Sand Canyon Creek, which cut through the high tablelands.