1973 Map of Ames

About this map

The settlement of Ames anchors this 1970s survey of Hand County, where the landscape is defined by the transitions between the township boundaries of Mondain, Glendale, and Pleasant Valley. The area is characterized by significant natural depressions and water features, most notably Wall Lake and the marshy reaches of Collins Slough. A distinct pattern of conservation and land management is evident in the multiple designated wildlife areas, including the Collins Slough State Public Shooting Area and the Curtis State Public Shooting Area. Local infrastructure is sparse but functional, centered around the Pleasant Valley Ch, a prominent Radio Tower, and the various Gravel Pits that suggest local road maintenance and agricultural industry. The map provides a clear record of rural life on the plains, from the course of Crow Cr to the grid of unpaved roads and section-line fences that organize the central South Dakota prairie.