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1985 Map of Brownlee Flats

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Brownlee Flats
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

The North Loup River meanders across this mid-1980s landscape in Cherry County, carving a path between the elevated plateaus of Brownlee Flats and Lee Flats. This section of Nebraska's Sandhills is characterized by its ranching heritage, with several prominent family operations including D Hanna Ranch, Pound Ranch, and C Reiser Ranch distributed across the valley floors. The small settlement of Brownlee serves as the focal point for this rural community near the eastern edge of the quadrangle.

Water is a defining feature of the terrain, as evidenced by the presence of Horseshoe Lake and several smaller drainages like Wamaduze Creek and Pass Creek. The map also captures specialized hydrologic features such as a Flowing Well, vital for sustaining livestock in the Horseshoe Valley. This survey provides a clear view of the ranching layouts and road networks that supported the Nebraska cattle industry during the late twentieth century.