1986 Map of Crawford

About this map

Fort Robinson State Park and the expansive Nebraska National Forest anchor this mid-1980s portrait of the Pine Ridge region. The landscape is defined by its dramatic geological formations, with distinctive landmarks like Giants Coffins Butte, Lovers Leap Butte, and Sugar Loaf Butte rising above the plains. This era shows the critical junction of the Burlington Northern and Chicago and North Western railroads, which facilitated the movement of goods through the high plains. The map details the transition from the Oglala National Grassland in the north to the more settled areas of Crawford and Chadron, the latter being home to Chadron State College. Smaller, isolated outposts such as Orella, Story, and Belmont reflect the sparse, ranch-oriented settlement patterns that persisted in the Panhandle long after the frontier era.