1896 Map of Patrick

About this map

The North Platte River carves a diagonal path through this 1890s cattle-country landscape, serving as the primary corridor for both transportation and settlement. The arrival of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroad, specifically the Casper Branch, parallels the river and connects the emerging town of Torrington with outlying points like Vaughan. The map is characterized by a series of family-named ranching operations that define the early economy, including Nolan's Ranch, Coffee's Ranch, and Rock Ranch. North of the river, the terrain rises into the dissected breaks of Pine Ridge and prominent heights like Spoon Butte along the Nebraska border. The landscape transitions from the broad depression of Goshen Hole in the southwest to the higher, arid plains punctuated by landmarks such as Lone Sand Hill. This survey captures the region just as the transition from open-range ranching to more permanent rail-side settlements was taking hold.