1958 Map of Columbus

About this map

The confluence of the Loup River and the Platte River anchors this 1950s survey of Columbus, Nebraska, revealing a landscape defined by significant water management and mid-century civic infrastructure. This era captures the city's growth, with numerous educational and religious institutions such as St Anthony Sch, Emerson Sch, and Columbus High Sch concentrated near Fountain Square and Hanover Square. The presence of the Powerplant and nearby Substation adjacent to Lake Babcock indicates the industrial utility of the river system, while the extensive reach of the Union Pacific and Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroads highlights the town's role as a vital transportation hub. Beyond the urban grid, the map traces the rural transition into Bismarck and Alexis, where older rural schools like School No 80 and School No 44 served outlying farmsteads.