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1960 Map of Bigelow

Name: 1960 Topographic Map of Bigelow
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The prairies of southern Nobles County are defined by an extensive drainage network and the diagonal transit of the Chicago and North Western railroad. This 1960 survey highlights the agricultural landscape surrounding Bigelow and the village of Org, where the rail line provided a critical link for grain transport and local commerce. The map records the early water management efforts in the region, specifically Judicial Ditch No 1 and Judicial Ditch No 15, which altered the natural flow of the local prairie wetlands.

To the north, the outskirts of Worthington are visible, bordering the recreational and reservoir waters of Okabena Lake and Ocheda Lake. Family history researchers can locate the Ransom Cem in the western portion of the quadrangle, while various gravel pits suggest the localized industrial activity of the era. The terrain remains largely open, marked by fine red dashed lines that represent the fence and field boundaries of mid-century Minnesota farms.