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1954 Map of Ericson

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Ericson
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Cedar River valley in the Sandhills of Wheeler County serves as the central artery for this 1950s survey, dictating the settlement patterns and agricultural infrastructure of the region. The village of Ericson is the primary hub, situated near the riverbanks where water management is evident through the presence of an early Powerplant and the creation of Ericson Lake. The surrounding terrain is defined by a complex network of wetlands and small water bodies, including Psotas Lake, Kruml Lake, and Hovart Lakes, which dot the landscape alongside Cedar Creek and Dry Cedar Creek.

For local historians, the map preserves the location of rural education centers that were once the heart of this ranching community. School No 32 stands in the eastern sections, while the map explicitly notes the site of School No 42 (Abandoned) to the northwest. Numerous windmills are scattered across the hills, marking the vital water sources required for livestock in this distinct Nebraska landscape during the mid-century era.