1899 Map of Goshen Hole

About this map

Goshen Hole defines the topography of this late nineteenth-century landscape, where the rugged terrain of the High Plains meets the early development of irrigation along the North Platte River. The map documents a pivotal era of cattle ranching and early settlement, dominated by large family holdings such as Yoder's Ranch, Greasewood Ranch, and Whitehead's Ranch. The transition from open range to more established communities is visible in the emergence of La Grange and Meriden, while the Mitchell Canal and Lawrence Canal signal the arrival of controlled water management in the arid West.