1902 Map of Briggsville

About this map

The Wisconsin River cuts a wide path through this central Wisconsin landscape at the dawn of the twentieth century, marking the divide between Columbia and Sauk counties. The northern reaches of the quadrangle are anchored by Briggsville on the shores of Mason Lake, a village that served as a local hub for the surrounding townships of Douglas and New Haven. The area's transportation network is defined by the Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul RR, which tracks closely alongside a substantial Levee protecting the lowlands near Lewiston. To the west, the broad, flat expanse of Dell Prairie contrasts with the winding watercourses of Neenah Creek and the Baraboo River. These features illustrate the vital role of water and rail in shaping early settlement patterns, from small rural centers like Big Spring to the scattered homesteads along the shores of Jordan Lake.