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1951 Map of Babbitt

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Babbitt
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1953
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1953

About this map

The settlement of Babbitt stands at a pivotal moment of expansion during the early 1950s, defined by the industrial development of the Iron Range. The map captures a landscape in transition, specifically noting the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railroad Company as under construction in certain sections. This infrastructure was critical for moving ore through the heart of the Superior National Forest.

The rugged geography is dominated by Birch Lake, featuring numerous named points and bays such as Kramer Point and Finn Bay. To the south, smaller water bodies like Argo Lake and Iron Lake sit amidst a network of forest boundaries and state game refuges. For the researcher, the map documents early housing and utility footprints near the Water Tank and the small outpost of Divide, providing a precise look at the area's layout before the full scale of mid-century mining operations was completed.