1961 Map of Laird

About this map

The North Fork Republican River and the Arikaree River define the hydraulic character of this high plains borderland, where the tri-state corner of Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas meets. This early 1960s survey captures the agricultural infrastructure essential to the region, most notably the Laird Canal and Haigler Canal that parallel the river courses. The settlement of Laird serves as a focal point along the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad line, which provides a straight east-west transit through the river valley toward Sanborn. Genealogists and local historians will find the Hanshaw Cem located near the Nebraska-Colorado border, while the presence of a Gravel Pit and a small Landing Strip reflect the local industry and transportation needs of the era. The terrain transitions from the river bottoms to the breaks of Nutty Combe in the south, showing the distinct township and range sections marked by the Base Line.