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1985 Map of Black River Falls

Name: 1985 Topographic Map of Black River Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1985
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1985

About this map

Black River Falls serves as the focal point for this mid-1980s landscape, where the Black River carves through a region defined by massive conservation tracts and military acreage. The map details the vast reach of the Black River State Forest and the Fort Mc Coy Military Reservation, illustrating a transition from the agricultural lands near Melrose and Tomah into the wetlands of the Meadow Valley State Wildlife Area. This era shows the heavy presence of rail infrastructure, including the Chicago and North Western and the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific lines, which historically served the region's timber and cranberry industries.

Prominent topographic features like Silver Mound and Bruce Mound rise above the drainage basins of Cranberry Creek and the Lemonweir River. To the east, the sprawling flowages of the Necedah National Wildlife Area and the shores of Petenwell Lake mark a landscape dominated by water management and wildlife preservation. Smaller settlements such as Millston, Warrens, and Valley Junction are captured along the primary transit corridors, offering a look at the rural network of Jackson and Monroe counties before significant modern expansion.