1951 Map of Wright Valley

About this map

Wright Valley and the surrounding Sandhills of western Nebraska appear here as a vast network of family cattle operations and isolated school districts. Surveyed shortly after World War II, the landscape is defined by its named valleys and flats, including Whitewater Flats and the curiously named Dishpan Valley. The map serves as a vital record for genealogists, detailing the exact locations of private holdings such as the Pinkerton Ranch, Huffman Ranch, and Connell Ranch. These ranches, often centered around windmills and local depressions like Big Lamunyon Flats, were the primary anchors of the local economy. The distribution of small rural schoolhouses, including School No 58 and School No 28, highlights the dispersed nature of the community before the consolidation of rural education districts in McPherson County.