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1980 Map of Wayside

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Wayside
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Wayside marks a quiet crossing in the Nebraska panhandle where the Chicago and North Western railroad cuts across a landscape defined by seasonal drainages and cattle country. This 1980 survey captures the area just as the old rail corridor remained a primary feature of the local geography, connecting the high plains of Dawes County with the South Dakota border. Landmarks like the prominent Wayside Butte and McDonald Ranch reflect the long-standing ranching traditions of the region.

Water is the primary sculptor of this terrain, with a network of creeks including Rush Creek, Peterson Creek, and Middle Creek branching through the hills. The map provides a clear record of the rural infrastructure of the early 1980s, noting everything from the state line along Fall River County to a Substation and a Radio Tower, highlighting the slow modernization of this isolated ranching territory.