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1985 Map of Albert Lea

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Albert Lea
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1994
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1994

About this map

The city of Albert Lea serves as a central hub in this Southern Minnesota landscape, where an extensive network of water and rail shaped the region's development. Situated at the junction of the Chicago and North Western and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroads, the area showcases the transition from heavy rail dependence to modern infrastructure, noted by segments of Old Railroad Grade. To the east, Austin marks the edge of the sheet, while smaller agricultural centers like Hollandale, Blooming Prairie, and Ellendale anchor the surrounding townships.

Water dominates the local geography, from the sprawling Albert Lea Lake and Geneva Lake to the drainage networks of the Shell Rock River and Maple River. Numerous conservation sites, including the Stokman State Wildlife Management Area and Lost Marsh State Wildlife Management Area, illustrate the commitment to preserving the natural wetlands and prairie potholes that define this portion of the glaciated plains.