1895 Map of Baraboo

About this map

The Baraboo River winds through a landscape defined by the striking topography of the Baraboo Narrows and the deep basin of Devils Lake. Surveyed in the early 1890s, this area shows a well-established network of valley settlements and upland townships. The Wisconsin River serves as a major geographical divider, with the Chicago and Northwestern railroad cutting across the terrain to connect Merrimac and Lodi. Significant elevation changes are marked by features like Gibraltar Rock, which overlooks the river plains. The distribution of small hubs such as Prairie du Sac, Sauk, and Okee illustrates a late-19th-century economy centered on river proximity and rail access. Near the southern boundary, Crystal Lake and Fish Lake sit within a cluster of glacial hills, providing a detailed view of the rural landscape before modern development altered these drainage patterns.