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1962 Map of Central City West

Name: 1962 Topographic Map of Central City West
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The Platte River dominates this mid-century Nebraska landscape, its braided channels creating a complex of sandbars and wetlands including Bushes Island. The terrain is shaped by the parallel flow of Prairie Creek to the north and the heavy presence of the Union Pacific railroad, which dictates the layout of Central City. This urban center features a concentration of infrastructure including the Central City Airport, a Fairground, and local industry represented by Gravel Pits along the eastern edge.

Rural Merrick County is defined by a dense grid of section lines dotted with numerous one-room schoolhouses, such as School No 12 and School No 38, and smaller stopping points like Paddock. To the southeast, across the county line into Hamilton County, the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad connects to Marquette. The map provides a clear picture of the Missouri River Basin development era, where hydrology and rail lines intersected to support prairie agriculture.