Loading map...

1951 Map of Rackett

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Rackett
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1951
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1951

About this map

Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge dominates the northwestern portion of this 1951 Garden County landscape, where the Sandhills terrain transitions into the broad valley of Blue Creek. The settlement pattern here is defined by isolated cattle ranching and camps, with family names like Keenan, Hisel, and Rounsburg marking the vast open ranges. These ranching outposts were supported by a network of one-room schoolhouses, including Well Valley Sch, School No 31, and School No 12, which served the local families across the various valleys.

Water management is central to life in this arid region, evidenced by the scattered windmills and natural features like Gusher Spring and Ward Lake. The topographical detail shows a complex system of depressions and valleys, such as Upper Jones Valley, Green Valley, and Dwire Valley, which provided shelter and graze for livestock. The presence of specialized sites like Peterson Camp, Wells Camp, and Avery Camp underscores the seasonal and operational nature of range management in mid-century Nebraska.