1962 Map of Lexington SE

About this map

Agricultural development in rural Dawson County is mapped here through a network of irrigation works and township divisions. The Dawson County Canal and various siphons illustrate the engineered landscape required for prairie farming in the mid-20th century. While the settlement of Josselyn serves as a local point of reference, the map highlights the infrastructure of a decentralized rural community, including School No 21 and the Fairhaven Ch. The natural drainages of Buffalo Creek and Elm Creek wind through the terrain, contrasting with the straight lines of the legal boundaries for Grant, Logan, and Overton townships. Mapping of this area was supported by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation as part of a larger federal initiative for the development of the Missouri River Basin, reflecting the era's focus on water management and land productivity.