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1896 Map of Fremont

Name: 1896 Topographic Map of Fremont
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1929
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1929

About this map

The Platte River and Elkhorn River converge in this 1890s survey, defining a landscape dominated by broad valleys and emerging railroad hubs. The region is a dense network of early Nebraska infrastructure, where the Union Pacific R.R. and the Burlington and Missouri River R.R. bisect agricultural townships like Waterloo and Jefferson. Significant settlements of the era, including the industrial center of Fremont and the riverfront outpost of Blair, are shown in their late nineteenth-century configurations.

Genealogists will find interest in the transition from established river towns like Fort Calhoun to newer railroad stops such as Gretna and Benson. The map clearly delineates numerous county boundaries and the distinct topography of the Platte Valley, illustrating how the drainage of Wahoo Creek and Rawhide Creek influenced the placement of early townships. This survey, completed under Henry Gannett, captures the eastern Nebraska corridor just as the modern rail-and-river economy was firmly established.