1961 Map of Laird

About this map

The North Fork Republican River valley defines this borderlands landscape where Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas converge. During the early 1960s, the settlement of Laird served as a key point along the Burlington Northern railroad, supported by an intricate irrigation system including the Laird Canal and Haigler Canal. The terrain is marked by the branching of Rush Creek and the southern flow of the Arikaree River. Local history is anchored by sites like Hanshaw Cem and the small siding at Sanborn. This survey, updated with 1980s data, illustrates the transition from traditional river-valley agriculture to a landscape punctuated by a Gravel Pit, Radio Towers, and a Gaging Station, reflecting both the natural hydrology and the technical infrastructure of the High Plains.