Loading map...

1895 Map of Byron

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Byron
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1904
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1904

About this map

The James River meanders southward through the center of this prairie landscape, carving a distinct valley through the townships of Lincoln, Cornwall, and Pleasant View. Surveyed in the late 19th century, the map reveals a burgeoning rail-and-river economy anchored by the Chicago and Northwestern R. R., which connects the grain-belt settlements of Doland, Frankfort, and Crandon.

Southern reaches of the sheet are defined by the aquatic complex of Byron Lake and Connors Lake, where the small settlement of Lakeside sits at the water's edge. Further north, the township grid shows established local centers such as Ashton and Hitchcock. The division between Spink and Beadle Counties runs through the lower third of the map, marking a transition in the local administration of these eastern South Dakota plains during the early years of statehood.