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1959 Map of Baraboo

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Baraboo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1964
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1964

About this map

The Wisconsin River carves a massive crescent through this landscape, defining the character of the settlements from the twin cities of Sauk City and Prairie du Sac in the south to the village of Merrimac at the river's crossing. In the late 1950s, the Badger Ordnance Works stands as a significant industrial footprint in Sumpter, contrasting with the glacial geology of Devils Lake State Park to the north.

The presence of the Chicago and North Western railroad facilitated the growth of Baraboo and Lodi, connecting these agricultural and manufacturing hubs to the wider region. Beyond the primary towns, a dense network of one-room schoolhouses and rural churches, such as Ikey Sch and Caledonia Ch, points to a highly organized rural society before the consolidation of the mid-20th century. Notable landmarks like Gibraltar Rock and Owls Head Hill overlook a landscape of diverse water bodies, including Fish Lake and the winding Baraboo River.