1896 Map of Columbia

About this map

The James River corridor serves as the primary drainage and developmental axis in this late 19th-century survey of the North Dakota South Dakota Boundary Line. The landscape is dominated by the wide, marshy expanses of Sand Lake and Lake Columbia, which flank the river as it flows through the township of Columbia. This era represents a peak for the regional rail-and-river economy, illustrated by the convergence of major lines like the Chicago and Northwestern and the Great Northern. Local history and genealogy researchers will find several small settlements established during the Dakota Boom, including Hecla, Houghton, and Claremont. The map also captures the distinct rectangular township system, with named divisions such as Liberty and Portage defining the early agricultural settlements of the James River Valley.