1949 Map of Baldwin

About this map

The Chicago and North Western railroad forms the backbone of development across these St. Croix and Pierce County townships, linking the established villages of Hammond, Baldwin, and Woodville. The landscape is defined by the headwaters of the Rush River and Kinnickinnic River, which carve through a dense network of dairy-era farmstead infrastructure. This 1940s landscape is exceptionally detailed in its rural social geography, recording dozens of local schoolhouses such as Birchdale Sch and Morton Corner Sch, alongside community anchors like Emmanuel Lutheran Ch and Happy Valley Ch. A notable geological landmark, Crystal Cave, appears near the border of Spring Lake and Rock Elm. The transition from the northern rail corridor to the southern settlements of Lawton and El Paso illustrates the local reliance on both the iron rail and the winding river valleys for commerce and transit before the expansion of the modern highway system.