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1957 Map of Clayton

Name: 1957 Topographic Map of Clayton
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The James River meanders through the southern portion of this landscape, cutting a sharp valley through the surrounding plains of Clayton and Wittenberg townships. This 1957 field check documents a rural South Dakota community organized around a dense network of country schools and churches. The small settlement of Clayton serves as a central point, anchored by the Clayton Sch and nearby Clayton Cem.

The distribution of local landmarks like Werning Sch, Highland Sch, and Kapsch Sch illustrates the township-based educational system of the mid-20th century. Water is a defining feature of the terrain, with Plum Creek, Elm Creek, and Wolf Creek draining toward the James River. Several Gravel Pits located near the river bluffs point to the local importance of aggregate mining for road building in this agricultural region.