1984 Map of Crosby

Rail transport remained central to the region's economy in the 1980s, with both the Soo Line and Burlington Northern railroads connecting small grain-elevator towns like Alkabo, Crosby, and Grenora. Local industry is further represented by several extraction sites in the south, including the Fulveg Mine and Ernie Mine. Nature conservation areas, such as the Lake Zahl National Wildlife Refuge and the Blue Ridge State Wildlife Management Area, provide a clear contrast to the structured township-and-range grid that governs the surrounding farmland.