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2013 Map of Belle Prairie

Name: 2013 Topographic Map of Belle Prairie
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2013
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2013

About this map

The Mississippi River carves a complex course through this central Minnesota landscape, defining a series of numerically designated landforms from Island Thirtytwo down to Island Fifty. This stretch of the river, just north of Little Falls, is characterized by these substantial islands and the distinct geological formation of the Ripley Esker to the northeast. The presence of Camp Ripley Junction and the Ray S Miller Army Airfield highlights the area's strategic significance, while the Minnesota State Veterans Cem provides a solemn local landmark near the riverbanks.

Local settlement patterns are centered around Belle Prairie, where the Holy Family Church Cem serves as a genealogical touchstone for the community. The infrastructure is dominated by the corridor of MN-371, which connects the northern campgrounds like Fletcher Creek Campground to the residential and industrial edges of the county seat. This survey captures a balance between the natural riverine environment, including smaller tributaries like Fletcher Cr and Rice Cr, and the established military and civilian developments of the early twenty-first century.