1920 Map of Craig

About this map

The Missouri River dictates the landscape of this tri-state border region, where the winding waterway separates Richardson County, Nebraska, from Holt County, Missouri. The floodplains are a dense network of drainage ditches and shifting channels, notably Little Tarkio Creek and the Tarkio River. The human geography of the early 20th century is defined by an incredibly high density of rural schoolhouses, suggesting a thriving agricultural population prior to the mid-century consolidation of districts. Named institutions like Lonesome School, Brush College School, and Exodus School dot the townships of Lincoln, Benton, and Rulo. The Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad serves as the primary transport artery, connecting the established river towns of Corning, Craig, and Bigelow while navigating the complex bluffs and bottoms of the river valley.