1951 Map of Brush East

About this map

Agricultural and industrial life in eastern Morgan County is defined by the vital waters of the South Platte River and the complex irrigation network that supports it. This 1951 survey reveals the infrastructure of the Missouri River Basin development, highlighted by the massive Sugar Refinery and Sub Station near the town of Brush. The landscape is a grid of productivity, where the Lower Platte and Beaver Canal and Snyder Ditch divert water to the surrounding plains. The settlement patterns follow the steel of the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern railroads, which connect small communities like Hillrose, Snyder, and Camden. Rural education is marked by the presence of the Colwell School and Fairview School, serving a territory dotted with windmills and cattle operations like the Trowel Ranch. The map captures a high-water mark of mid-century prairie engineering, from the Sewage Disposal Plant to the Municipal Airport.