1902 Map of Briggsville

About this map

The Wisconsin River defines the lower third of this region at the start of the twentieth century, winding through a complex landscape of wetlands and river bottoms. The Chicago Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad cuts an east-west path across the center of the sheet, providing a vital link for settlements like Lewiston and Briggsville. This era was marked by significant water management efforts, evidenced by the presence of a Levee along the riverbanks to protect low-lying land in the township of Lewiston. North of the river, the terrain is dotted with substantial water bodies including Mason Lake and Jordan Lake, the latter featuring the small settlement of Lakeside. The map highlights the intersection of several county boundaries, including those of Adams, Marquette, Columbia, and Sauk, illustrating how these political lines often followed natural watercourses or surveyors' grids through areas like New Haven and Douglas.