1961 Map of Cottonwood NE

About this map

The Chicago and North Western railroad cuts across the northern landscape of Jackson and Haakon counties, following the drainage of Dry Creek and Cottonwood Creek. This 1961 field-checked survey reveals a sparsely settled ranching environment where the South Fork Bad River meanders eastward through the center of the map. Educational life is represented by the isolated Fairview Sch in the southwest quadrant, while the small Landing Strip near the railroad tracks indicates the importance of aerial access in this expansive terrain. To the south, the headwaters of Big Buffalo Creek, Little Buffalo Creek, and Whitewater Creek define the topography, with significant natural features like Big Buffalo and Little Buffalo marking the land. Several Gravel Pit locations along the river and various Gravel Pits to the north reflect local extraction activity during the early 1960s.