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1958 Map of Brainerd

Name: 1958 Topographic Map of Brainerd
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Mississippi River winds through the heart of this mid-century central Minnesota landscape, anchoring a region defined by its dense concentration of lakes and significant public lands. The city of Brainerd serves as a primary hub, situated near the confluence of major transit lines and the expansive waters of Gull Lake and Pelican Lake. To the south, the Camp Ripley Military Reservation occupies a massive tract along the river, while the northern and eastern reaches are dominated by the Chippewa National Forest and Land O'Lakes State Forest.

Railroad connectivity is a prominent feature of the era's economy, with the Northern Pacific Railway and Great Northern Railway threading through towns like Staples, Wadena, and Detroit Lakes. The map captures a transition in the landscape from the timbered reaches of the Smoky Hills to the agricultural and recreational centers of Otter Tail County. This 1958 survey provides an essential view of the area before the full expansion of modern highway corridors, preserving the layout of smaller settlements like Verndale, Hewitt, and Perham.