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1950 Map of Alma

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Alma
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The Mississippi River corridor dominates this 1950 survey, showcasing the complex engineering of the upper river during the mid-century era. At the heart of the waterway lies Lock and Dam No 4 near Alma, a critical piece of infrastructure for navigation alongside the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The landscape is a network of backwaters and sloughs, including Buffalo Slough and Pomme de Terre Slough, which weave through the floodplain between the high bluffs of Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Upland from the river, the rural character of Buffalo County is defined by its many valley schools and country churches. Distinctive ridges like Alma Ridge and Huber Ridge separate deep coulees where settlements like Modena and Tell are situated. Genealogists will find numerous small burial grounds and parish sites, from Church Valley Cem and Nelson Cem to the St Paul Ch. The presence of the Airway Beacon and several family-named schools, such as Fimian Creek Sch and Little Bluebell Sch, provides a detailed look at the local infrastructure serving these isolated valley communities.