1956 Map of Blue Hill

About this map

Blue Hill rises above the prairie landscape of central North Dakota, serving as the namesake for this 1950s study by the Water Conservation Commission. The terrain is characterized by numerous small depressions and potholes typical of the glaciated plains, with the ephemeral Hiddenwood watercourse tracing through the northwest. Small-scale rural infrastructure is the primary marker of human activity, represented by isolated landmarks like the Well in the southeast. Education in this agrarian region remained decentralized at the time of this survey, anchored by local institutions such as Blue Hill Sch and Centerville Sch. The map records the boundary where Ward and McLean counties meet, capturing the area as a network of section lines and unimproved roads connecting disparate farmsteads before the modern consolidation of rural districts.