Intermediate Series Map of Nebraska

Rare, early 20th century land promotion map of Nebraska.

Railroads were central to the development of Nebraska. The state is home to thousands of acres of arable land perfectly suitable for farms and ranches, but without a way to get these commodities to markets in the east, it would be impossible to achieve commercial success. Lands granted to the railroad companies in the form of a subsidy by the federal government were often the first to sell, and pushed the inevitable trend of settlement further westward along the route of the first Transcontinental Railroad.

This ongoing process of expansion is clearly visible on this map of the state, published by the Geographical Publishing Company in Chicago (a major market for those foodstuffs referenced earlier). It was issued by A.J. Wilson, an abstractor and record keeper in Thayer County who also likely participated in land speculation on the side. The map shows transportation routes, towns and county seats, and geographic features. Color is used to delineate individual counties, while bold red ink separates military reservations, forest reserves and the area designated as part of the North Platte Irrigation Project. The town of Hebron is also called out as the headquarters of the sponsoring company.