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2016 Map of Aurora

Name: 2016 Topographic Map of Aurora
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2016
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2016

About this map

Aurora and Hoyt Lakes anchor this section of the Mesabi Range, where the industrial footprint of iron mining is etched into the landscape. North of the developed street grids, the massive Erie Mine Number One Pit and complex water management systems like the Donora Settling Basin and E Stephens Settling Basin speak to the scale of the taconite operations that have defined the local economy for decades. These engineered basins contrast sharply with the natural flow of the Partridge River and the elevations of the Embarrass Mountains to the north.

Local heritage is preserved at the Czechoslovakian National Cem and Forest Hill Cem, providing vital reference points for genealogists researching the immigrant labor force of the Iron Range. The map also captures several smaller settlements and sidings, including Hinsdale, Colby, and the site of Old Mesaba, illustrating the shifting patterns of habitation as mining operations expanded across Saint Louis County.