1958 Map of Balfour

About this map

The prairie landscape of McHenry County is defined by the sweeping course of the Wintering River and the prominent glacial landform known as Hogback Ridge. At the heart of this 1950s survey is the town of Balfour, a hub established along the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie railroad. The map captures a moment of transition for rural infrastructure, specifically noting the School No 1 (Abandoned) in the northwestern section, a common sight as mid-century school consolidation began to alter the local social fabric. To the south, the terrain softens into the Wintering Flats and gives way to numerous wetlands and water bodies, most notably Cottonwood Lake. This survey was conducted as part of the Department of the Interior program for the development of the Missouri River Basin, reflecting the era's focus on land and water resource management in the Great Plains.