2017 Map of Ashton

About this map

The James River snakes through the heart of this Spink County landscape, forming a complex network of wetlands and oxbows between the settlements of Ashton and Redfield. This area of South Dakota is defined by its dramatic glacial hydrology, where Snake Cr and Turtle Creek converge with the river's main channel. The map illustrates a highly organized section-line road system, including Co Rd 14 and 171st St, which partitions the prairie into a grid of agricultural and conservation lands. In the southern reach, the outskirts of Redfield appear near the confluence of the river and Turtle Creek, showcasing the strategic placement of early Dakota settlements near reliable water sources and transport corridors. The distribution of numerous small seasonal ponds and wetlands across the eastern half of the survey highlights the natural prairie pothole environment that persists alongside modern rural development.