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1985 Map of Flats

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Flats
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1986
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1986

About this map

Flats and the surrounding ranching landscape of the Nebraska Sandhills are meticulously documented in this mid-1980s record of McPherson County. The topography is dominated by stabilized dune formations and scattered depressions, many of which hold ephemeral or permanent water bodies. Large-scale livestock operations are the primary footprint on this land, evidenced by several family-named landmarks including the J Daly Ranch, G Daly Ranch, and McNutt Ranch.

Hydrological features such as Diamond Bar Lake, Little Diamond Bar Lake, and Schick Lake provide critical water sources in this semi-arid environment. The distribution of these ranch complexes, such as the Diamond Bar Ranch and Connell Ranch, alongside primitive roads and trails, illustrates the persistent spatial organization of high-plains cattle ranching. This document is a clear baseline for studying the rural development and land use patterns of this remote Nebraska interior.