1950 Map of Irwin

About this map

The Chicago and North Western railroad cuts a straight path across this Sandhills landscape, connecting the small settlement of Irwin to the wider region. This 1950 field-checked survey reveals a sparsely populated ranching area defined by its numerous lakes and alkaline basins, such as Alkali Lake and Rat Meadow. The distribution of rural education is clearly visible through the placement of numbered schoolhouses, including School No 78 and School No 58 near the vanished post office locale of Bayonne. To the south, the Niobrara River winds through the terrain, crossed by the Lions Bridge. The map captures a moment when flowing wells were critical infrastructure for the isolated farmsteads and schools scattered between the northern Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge and the river valley.