1977 Map of Reward

About this map

Reward and Seven Stars sit within a landscape defined by the rhythmic striping of contour-plowed fields in this 1977 orthophotograph. This specific map, produced in cooperation with the Soil Conservation Service, uses rectified aerial imagery to reveal the complex agricultural patterns across Buffalo Valley. The visual data provides an unusually clear record of land use and field boundaries during the late 1970s, showcasing how local farmers adapted their planting to the local topography. Bordering the southern portion of this rural mosaic is the dark, wooded ridgeline of Berry Mountain, which creates a sharp geographic boundary between the cultivated valley floor and the surrounding highlands. Unlike traditional topographic maps, this imagery records every barn, woodlot, and farm lane exactly as they stood during the spring of 1977.