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1920 Map of Craig

Name: 1920 Topographic Map of Craig
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1920
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1920

About this map

The Missouri River carves a complex, braided path through this 1920 edition survey, defining the border between Nebraska and Missouri. The river plain is a dense network of agricultural townships like Benton and Bigelow, characterized by a remarkably high concentration of rural schoolhouses such as Brush College School, Lonesome School, and Exodus School. These landmarks reflect the decentralized social structure of the early 20th-century Missouri River bottoms, where small settlements like Rulo and Craig served as vital hubs.

Transport is dominated by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad, which skirts the eastern bluffs and crosses the river into Nebraska. The map details the shifting nature of the river valley, showing oxbows and secondary channels like Little Tarkio Creek and Squaw Creek. The intricate surveying of sections and local schools provides a clear view of the landscape just as the modern highway system began to reshape these river-and-rail economies.