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1972 Map of Alida

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Alida
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1974
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1974

About this map

The Mississippi Headwaters State Forest dominates the southeastern portion of this landscape, where the newborn Mississippi River begins its long journey south. This orthophotomap, based on 1969 aerial photography and 1972 topography, provides a rare visual record of the glacial lake country at the intersection of Clearwater, Beltrami, and Hubbard counties. The small settlement of Alida serves as a local anchor, surrounded by a complex network of wetlands and drainage systems including Bear Creek and the Little Mississippi River.

Insights into early rural organization are visible through the location of the Townhall and the Township Cem situated near Moose Lake. The use of orthophotography allows for the identification of clear-cut forest patches, farmstead clearings, and various Gravel Pits that supported the local road infrastructure. Large water bodies like Dahlberg Lake and Crystal Lake punctuate the wooded terrain, illustrating the hydrologic character of this northern Minnesota region before significant modern development.