Loading map...

1954 Map of McCook

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of McCook
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

McCook serves as the focal point of this regional study, which captures the hydraulic and agricultural landscape of southwest Nebraska during the mid-twentieth century. The map documents a critical era of water management, showing major reservoirs such as Swanson Lake, Enders Reservoir, Hugh Butler Lake, and Harry Strunk Lake fully integrated into the local topography. These bodies of water, supported by the Enders Dam and Trenton Dam, reflect the significant post-war infrastructure developments that transformed the Republican River and Frenchman Creek basins.

Transitioning from the fertile river valleys to the expansive Sand Hills, the survey illustrates the reliance on transportation networks like the Burlington Northern and Union Pacific railroads. Notable local landmarks include Massacre Canyon and Willow Island, alongside numerous small settlements such as Trenton, Benkelman, and Imperial. This record is particularly valuable for tracing the evolution of irrigation via the Gothenburg Canal and Cozad Canal as they divert water from the Platte River.