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1957 Map of Bemidji

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Bemidji
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

Lake Itasca serves as the geographic heart of this mid-century survey, marking the headwaters of the Mississippi River as it begins its long journey south. This territory is characterized by its massive water bodies and extensive tribal lands, including the Red Lake Indian Reservation to the north and the White Earth Indian Reservation to the west. The landscape is a complex network of glacial lakes and rivers, with the Chippewa National Forest blanketing the eastern portion of the map.

Industrial and transport connections are dominated by the Great Northern RR and Northern Pacific RR, which facilitated the movement of timber and goods through hubs like Bemidji and Cass Lake. Numerous fire towers and lookout towers are noted throughout the forest tracts, indicating the active management of these timberlands. For genealogists, the map preserves the locations of smaller settlements such as Naytahwaush, Zerkel, and Pinewood during a period of steady post-war development in Northern Minnesota.