1968 Map of Benson

About this map

The city of Benson serves as the focal point of this late-1960s survey, situated along the Great Northern Railroad in western Minnesota. The community structure is well-defined, showing a central Courthouse, a Hospital, and several religious and educational landmarks including St Francis Cem, Our Redeemer Ch, and its associated Our Redeemer Cem. The surrounding rural landscape is defined by the winding course of the East Branch Chippewa River and an extensive network of drainage infrastructure like Judicial Ditch No 4 and Judicial Ditch No 19. This system of ditches illustrates the intentional management of the prairie wetlands for agriculture and conservation. Significant acreage is dedicated to preservation, notably the Henry X State Wildlife Management Areas and Bench State Wildlife Management Area, which protect numerous small lakes and marshy depressions including Lake Johnson and Frovold Lake.