1909 Map of Cross Plains

About this map

Black Earth Creek winds through the driftless-area topography of western Dane County, anchoring a landscape defined by small agricultural hamlets and early rail corridors. Surveyed in the first decade of the 1900s, the map reveals the distinct settlement patterns of townships like Roxbury and Springfield, where German and Scandinavian immigrant communities established landmarks such as Ashton Church and the Lutheran Church. The Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul Railway provides the primary industrial spine, connecting Black Earth and Cross Plains to the developing rail hub at Middleton Junction. To the south, the headwaters of the Sugar River and the undulating terrain near Mt Horeb reflect the transition from the glaciated plains toward the more varied elevations of Table Bluff and Lutheran Hill. This period captures the region just as the village of Middleton was emerging as a significant local center, while smaller stops like Klevenville and Riley served as vital links for rural commerce.