1974 Map of Balsam Lake NW

About this map

Balsam Lake serves as the central focal point of this 1974 orthophotoquad, which uses aerial imagery to document the intricate landscape of northwestern Wisconsin. The map captures the transition between the agricultural checkerboard of the surrounding countryside and the jagged, irregular shoreline of the lake itself. The small settlement of Balsam Lake is visible on the western shore, where local roads converge to serve the community. This specific aerial survey provides an unfiltered look at land use patterns during the mid-1970s, showing the precise density of forest cover and the exact boundaries of cultivated fields before later development altered the rural character of Polk County.