2015 Map of Academy

About this map

Academy serves as a central hub in this section of Charles Mix County, situated atop the plains north of the Missouri River. The landscape is defined by the transition from upland agricultural fields to the dissected bluffs leading down to Lake Francis Case. This massive reservoir on the Missouri River is crossed here by the Platte-Winner Bridge, a vital transportation link connecting Charles Mix and Gregory counties. The interior drainage is characterized by seasonal watercourses like Snake Cr, which feeds into Academy Lake. For local history researchers, the map identifies the LaRoche Cem and the Platte Colony, reflecting the communal and family-centered settlement patterns of the South Dakota prairie. The geometric precision of the township and range system is evident in the grid of section roads, including 355th Ave and 271st St, which navigate the varying elevations of the river breaks.