1964 Map of Crete South

About this map

Doane College overlooks the northern portion of this landscape, where the Big Blue River meanders southward through a valley of dense agricultural field lines. In the mid-1960s, the rural character of this region is defined by a high concentration of country schools and multi-denominational burial grounds, such as the Bohemian National Cem and Sacred Heart Cem. Transportation corridors like the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad parallel the river, connecting the primary settlement at Crete with smaller sidings and communities like Shestak and Kramer. The topography reveals the intersection of three counties—Saline, Lancaster, and Gage—marked by family-named landmarks like Bertwell Sch and Vikla Sch that served the surrounding farmsteads. The southern reaches include the Teal State Special Use Area, highlighting early conservation efforts along the Olive Creek drainage.