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1900 Map of Ogallala

Name: 1900 Topographic Map of Ogallala
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1939
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1939

About this map

The North Platte River and South Platte River define this western Nebraska landscape, surveyed just before the turn of the century. The southern corridor is dominated by the Union Pacific railroad and the Ogallala settlement, while the surrounding tablelands are marked by a network of early cattle operations. Notable family-named outposts like Kingsley's Ranch, Mahaffey's Ranch, and Winslows Ranch dot the valley floors, illustrating the transition from open range to established ranching.

Transport history is etched into the terrain via the Old California Trail, which passes near California Hill. The emergence of early irrigation is evident through a complex system of canals, including the Alfalfa Canal and the Ogallala Pacific Shirman Canal. These waterways represent the vital infrastructure required to support agriculture in the arid Platte valley, connecting smaller communities like Keystone to the regional rail economy.