Loading map...

1951 Map of Sterling North

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Sterling North
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1971
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1971

About this map

The South Platte River valley defines the agricultural and industrial character of this region, where a complex network of irrigation systems like the North Sterling Canal and Sterling No 1 Ditch supports the high plains landscape. North of the city of Sterling, the terrain transitions from the river's fertile bottomlands to a series of bluffs and drainages, including the North Branch Cedar Creek.

Educational history is strongly represented throughout the rural landscape, with several local institutions serving the farming communities, such as Sanders School, Minto Valley School, and Fairview Valley School. In the more developed southern portion, the map highlights the early campus of Sterling Junior College and public amenities like Pioneer Park. The importance of transportation and industry to the local economy is evident in the convergence of the Chicago Burlington and Quincy and Union Pacific railroads, alongside active Sand Pits and Gravel Pits that supported regional development.