2011 Map of Raven

About this map

Raven is the central settlement in this sparsely populated stretch of the Nebraska Sandhills, located within Brown County. The landscape is defined by its numerous small, unnamed basins and wetlands characteristic of this unique geographic region. Two named water bodies, Jones Lake and Hagan Lake, stand out against the high-density distribution of smaller potholes and seasonal pools. Transportation and access are facilitated by a network of local roads and the inclusion of Abbott Airport, which serves this isolated ranching country. The distribution of these features reveals a pattern of land use centered on a few reliable water sources and the necessary infrastructure for reaching this corner of the Great Plains. The map provides a clear look at the area's hydrology and small-scale settlement patterns as they existed in the early twenty-first century.