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1949 Map of Long Lake

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Long Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Valentine National Wildlife Refuge dominates the northern half of this landscape, characterized by the unique topography of the Nebraska Sandhills. The area is defined by a series of shallow basins and lakes, including Long Lake, Rat Lake, and Center Lake, which provide critical habitat for migratory birds. South of the refuge, the land transitions into the expansive ranching country of Goose Creek.

The human geography of the late 1940s is traced through a dense network of family-held properties such as the Schleuter Ranch, Higgins Bros Ranch, and Thomas Place. The placement of School No 183 and School No 102 illustrates the remote nature of these rural communities, where small schoolhouses served scattered ranching families. In the south, the terrain descends toward the Loup River near the border of Pleasant Hill and Elsmere, showing the early 20th-century reliance on natural watercourses for agricultural survival.