1986 Map of Brainerd

About this map

The Mississippi River winds through the heart of this central Minnesota landscape, where the confluence of the Crow Wing River marks a historic transition point for river travel and timber transport. In the 1980s, this region was defined by a complex mosaic of conservation lands, including the Pillsbury State Forest and numerous specialized wildlife zones like the Turtle Creek State Wildlife Management Area. The city of Brainerd and neighboring Baxter serve as the primary hubs, surrounded by a dense network of lakes such as Gull Lake and Pelican Lake that highlight the area's transition into the northern vacation country.