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1952 Map of Ordway

Name: 1952 Topographic Map of Ordway
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1954
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1954

About this map

The Elm River and Moccasin Creek converge in this mid-century portrait of Brown County, where the meandering watercourses dictated the early layout of regional transport and infrastructure. The small settlement of Ordway sits at a critical junction of the Chicago and North Western railroad, serving as a focal point for the surrounding agricultural townships. The landscape is dotted with evidence of early rural community life, featuring family-named education sites like Thorson Sch and the Prairie View Sch.

Industrial and utility development is visible through the Aberdeen Filtration Plant and a series of Gravel Pit operations, while the complex hydrology of the area is highlighted by a Spillway and the presence of Alkali Lake. This survey illustrates the transition of the Missouri River Basin as modernization reached these plains, balancing traditional rail-dependent commerce with new water management systems.