Loading map...

1961 Map of Brule SE

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Brule SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The South Platte River carves a wide, braided path across this portion of Keith County, defining the agricultural and transport corridor of the Nebraska plains. Along its northern bank, the Union Pacific railroad parallels the river, providing a vital link for the small rural communities and ranching operations that dot the landscape. This 1961 field check captures the area just before the full modernization of the regional infrastructure, evidenced by the high density of rural schoolhouses such as School No 14 and School No 5.

The southern half of the map shifts from the river valley into the higher tablelands of West Ogallala and Vail, where the Western Canal snakes through the terrain to support local irrigation. Scattered aviation and survey markers, including Searle Airport near the eastern margin, indicate the growing importance of regional connectivity in the early 1960s. The presence of the Keith Co Perkins Co boundary at the southern edge highlights the rural division of these High Plains counties.