1977 Map of Niobrara

About this map

Niobrara sits at the significant confluence of two major waterways on this 1977 orthophotograph, where the Niobrara River meets the braided channels of the Missouri River. This advance print, produced by the Geological Survey in cooperation with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, provides an aerial perspective of the landscape straddling the Nebraska and South Dakota border. The image reveals a stark transition from the complex, silt-laden river bottoms to the highly structured agricultural grid of the uplands, including the high ground of Perkins. The presence of Choteau Cr in the northwestern corner further highlights the drainage patterns that have shaped this borderland territory. This specific edition captures the town and its surrounding fields as they appeared in the late 1970s, documenting the river's path before shifting currents or further development altered the shoreline.