1957 Map of Lincoln

About this map

Lincoln and its surrounding agricultural plains appear at a moment of significant mid-century transition on this mid-1950s survey. The landscape is defined by a dense grid of township lines and a sophisticated rail network, including the Chicago and North Western and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy lines. To the northwest of the city, the footprint of Lincoln AFB reflects the military presence of the Cold War era. Smaller rural nodes like McCool Junction, Fairmont, and Weeping Water serve as essential collection points for the region's produce, situated along the tributaries of the Blue River and Salt Creek. The map documents numerous small rail stops and settlements, such as Knox Station and Goehner, many of which were central to local life before the consolidation of rural services and the expansion of the modern highway system.