1978 Map of Clifford

About this map

Clifford sits at the intersection of rail history and pioneer migration on the high plains of Lincoln County. The Union Pacific railroad cuts a straight diagonal southeast through the territory, running parallel to the winding path of Big Sandy Creek. The landscape is dominated by the historic route of the Smoky Hill Trail, which once served as a major thoroughfare for gold seekers and settlers heading toward the Rockies. This 1970s survey documents a sparse, ranching-oriented landscape where water sources like Spring and various Well locations were critical to survival. The presence of a solitary Grave near the railroad tracks and the townsite of Clifford hints at the lonely realities of early life in this arid region, while the Roadside Park along the highway indicates the transition to modern automobile travel.