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1954 Map of Albert Lea

Name: 1954 Topographic Map of Albert Lea
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

Albert Lea sits at the heart of a complex hydrologic and transit network in southern Minnesota, where the Shell Rock River and a series of glacial lakes shaped the development of Freeborn County. The landscape in the 1950s was defined by the confluence of four major rail lines, including the Illinois Central and the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific, which fueled the growth of surrounding townships like Bancroft and Riceland. This survey captures the era's agricultural and civic infrastructure, from the Albert Lea Municipal Airport to numerous rural schoolhouses such as Jeklyn Sch and Hammer Sch.

Water dominates the local geography, featuring Katherine Island within Fountain Lake and the expansive Albert Lea Lake. Significant landmarks for family historians include Hillcrest Memorial Gardens and North Round Prairie Cem, alongside many neighborhood churches. The presence of Myre State Park and the County Fairground reflects the established recreational and community character of this region just north of the Iowa border.