2011 Map of Smyrna Cemetery

About this map

Rush Creek meanders across the northern reaches of this Cheyenne County landscape, providing a rare hydraulic break in an otherwise strictly gridded agricultural expanse. This area of Nebraska is defined by a rigorous network of section-line roads, such as Road 52 and Road 81, which delineate the massive tracts of prairie and farmland. The map reflects a modern era of rural organization where the landscape is almost entirely partitioned by these thoroughfares, including Road 77 and Road 44. While the terrain appears sparse, the placement of these roads reveals the enduring legacy of the Public Land Survey System, which continues to dictate the movement and settlement patterns throughout the High Plains. Researchers can trace the intersections of these numbered routes to locate family homesteads and agricultural sites that have anchored this region for generations.