1958 Map of McCook

About this map

The Republican River and Frenchman River valleys anchor this 1950s study of southwest Nebraska, where the arid Sand Hills meet the fertile irrigated plains of the Platte watershed. This landscape is defined by its water management systems, including the substantial Swanson Lake and Medicine Creek Reservoir, which supported the region's agricultural transition. The city of McCook serves as a primary hub for the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR, while smaller cattle and grain towns like Imperial and Hayes Center dot the upland plateaus. For local historians, the map captures specific landmarks of rural life, such as St Johns Church and the numerous grain elevators that stood along the rail sidings of the Union Pacific RR. The network of irrigation infrastructure is particularly visible in the northeast, where the Gothenburg Canal and Orchard Alfalfa Canal divert from the Platte River.