1897 Map of Casselton

About this map

The Northern Pacific R. R. (Main Line) anchors this late 19th-century survey of Cass County, cutting a straight horizontal path through the Red River Valley. This rail corridor established the primary hubs of Casselton and Wheatland, which appear here as central nodes in a rapidly developing agricultural grid. The landscape is defined by the sinuous curves of the Maple River and the Sheyenne River, which stand in stark contrast to the rigid township boundaries. A dense network of secondary rail lines, including the Great Northern R. R. (Mayville Line) and the Southwestern Branch, connects smaller agricultural settlements and post offices like Chaffee P.O. and Leonard. The map captures the region's transition into a major grain-producing hub, showing numerous small sidings and junctions like Langers and Saxony that served the surrounding wheat farms.