1951 Map of Babbitt SW

About this map

Superior National Forest dominates this landscape in northern St. Louis County, where the transition toward industrial mining is clearly documented at the start of the 1950s. The northern reaches are defined by the winding course of the Partridge River, while the southern portion features the quiet waters of Stone Lake and the confluence of Colvin Creek and Cranberry Cr. Of particular interest to industrial historians is the Reserve Mining Company Railroad Under Construction cutting through the northeast corner. This infrastructure project signals the expansion of taconite mining in the Iron Range region, showing the rail line in its nascent stage as it began to reshape the woods of Bassett. The map records a moment when the wilderness of the national forest was being purposefully intersected by the logistical needs of the burgeoning iron industry.