1899 Map of Alexandria

About this map

The James River carves a deep, winding valley through the western edge of this prairie landscape, providing a sharp contrast to the rigid township and range grid that dominates the high plains. Surveyed in the mid-1890s, the map reveals a region defined by its burgeoning rail network and agrarian townships like Worthen and Beulah. Four major railroad lines intersect the territory, fueling the growth of small shipping hubs such as Alexandria, Bridgewater, and Spencer. While the rails dictated commerce, local life followed the drainages of Rock Creek and Enemy Creek, where early riverside settlements like Rockport and Elm Spring were established. The map meticulously records the political geography of the time, showing the boundaries between Sanborn, Davison, Miner, and McCook counties during a period of rapid homesteading development.