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1973 Map of Melton Ranch Airport

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Melton Ranch Airport
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Dry Red Willow Creek meanders through this portion of Lincoln County during the early 1970s, carving a drainage pattern through the Nebraska sandhills. The landscape is defined by the logistics of ranching and early energy exploration, evidenced by the presence of Oil Wells and a isolated Well scattered across the township lines. The small settlement of Dickens sits in the northeast corner, serving as a quiet focal point for the surrounding rural sections.

Transportation and infrastructure are tied to the Burlington Northern railroad, which cuts a diagonal path across the terrain. Private aviation is supported by the Melton Ranch Airport in the southern sections, illustrating the necessity of air travel for remote ranch operations in this era. This survey also records numerous fence and field lines, providing a detailed record of land use and property divisions as they existed before modern center-pivot irrigation became ubiquitous in the region.