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1956 Map of Belle Prairie NW

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Belle Prairie NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

Camp Ripley Military Reservation dominates the landscape of this 1950s survey, illustrating the extensive military footprint within Morrison and Crow Wing Counties. The map details a complex grid of military and rural roads, such as Normandy Road, Gettysburg Road, and Anzio Road, which weave between dozens of named lakes and wetlands. The Mississippi River forms the eastern boundary of the reservation, featuring landmarks like Pipe Island and the historic installation at Fort Ripley.

Beyond the military grounds, the townships of Rail Prairie and Clough show a sparse but established rural infrastructure. Genealogists and local historians can locate civic anchors like School No 47 and the local Town Hall, alongside numerous water bodies including Coon Stump Lake, Lake Alexander, and Round Lake. The presence of a Lookout Tower and a labyrinth of unimproved roads through the glacial lake terrain highlights the region's mid-century character before modern development.