1949 Map of Cathay

About this map

The prairie landscape of Wells County is defined by the diagonal transit of the Soo Line railroad, which anchors the small community of Cathay. This survey, compiled from 1940s aerial photography and later field-checked, reveals a rural grid system organized into townships including Germantown, Fairview, and Cathay. The drainage of Rocky Run meanders toward the southeast, cutting through the section lines and connecting the town to the surrounding agricultural plains. Local infrastructure for this mid-century period is well-preserved here, showing the locations of School No 3 north of town and the Lake View Cem nearby. Further south, the map captures the upper reaches of the Pipestem drainage and several Gravel Pit operations that supported local road building and maintenance.