1952 Map of Brewster SE

About this map

The Middle Loup River winds through the heart of this Blaine County landscape, defining the water-dependent economy of the Nebraska Sandhills. This survey, published as part of the Missouri River Basin development program, illustrates the critical role of irrigation and land management in the mid-20th century. Notable infrastructure such as the Milburn Diversion Dam and the Rankin Ditch network appear alongside an earlier, Rankin Ditch (Abandoned) segment, tracing the evolution of water rights and engineering in the valley. The scattered settlement pattern is anchored by prominent family holdings including Fowler Ranch, Hazen Ranch, and McMillen Ranch, while the presence of School No 61 highlights the rural social structure of the era. The terrain transitions from the river's riparian corridor near Rifle Creek into the upland regions of Brewster and Edith, marked by numerous windmills essential for cattle ranching.