2021 Map of Merna

About this map

Merna occupies the northeastern corner of this Custer County landscape, a vital agricultural hub defined by its grid of village streets and its proximity to the Merna Cem. The surrounding terrain transitions from the high, flat expanses of the West Table into a complex network of drainage valleys and canyons. Seasonal watercourses like the S Br Mud Cr carve through the land, leading into prominent topographical features such as Ortello Valley and Dale Valley. The map reveals a deeply etched countryside where Custer Canyon, Union Valley, and the colorfully named Yellow Dog Canyon dictate the placement of rural section roads. This survey illustrates the enduring patterns of Nebraska's Sandhills-edge ranching and farming country, where long-established routes like Old Hwy 2 and Victoria Springs Rd provide the primary links between isolated homesteads and the central settlement.