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1956 Map of Belle Prairie NW

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Belle Prairie NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

Camp Ripley Military Reservation dominates the central and southern portions of this landscape, its presence defined by an extensive network of tactical roads like Normandy Road and Cody Road. Along the eastern boundary, the Mississippi River flows past Pipe Island and the grounds of Fort Ripley, marking the border between Morrison and Crow Wing Counties.

Glacial topography has created a dense concentration of water bodies across the townships of Rail Prairie and Clough. From the large expanse of Lake Alexander to the specialized wetland of Hole in Day Marsh, the area remains largely rural and marshy. Scattered local infrastructure, including School No 47, a Lookout Tower, and a lone Town Hall near Round Lake, provides essential reference points for genealogists and local historians tracking the mid-century development of these central Minnesota townships.