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1958 Map of Balta

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Balta
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Balta and its surrounding Pierce County prairies are documented here following a 1950s field check, showing a landscape defined by small-town infrastructure and rural education. The village of Balta sits centrally along the rail line, bordered to the south by the Balta Game Management Area. This agricultural region preserves several family-oriented and community landmarks, including Brazil Sch No 2 and Brazil Sch No 3, which reflect the historical density of school districts in Tuscarora and Jefferson townships.

The presence of Mt Carmel Cem and another labeled Cem suggests the deep-rooted settlement patterns of the area's early residents. Large natural water bodies like Red Lake, Davis Lake, and Ranch Lake break up the section lines, providing a record of the hydrology before later 20th-century modifications. These features, mapped as part of the Missouri River Basin development program, provide a clear view of the prairie's layout during the mid-century era.