1967 Map of Dawson

About this map

Dawson sits at the confluence of the Lac Qui Parle River and its West Branch, serving as a vital agricultural and transportation hub for western Minnesota in the late 1960s. The town's layout is intricately tied to the Chicago and North Western railroad, which cuts diagonally across the prairie landscape from the northwest. The map reveals an engineered environment where natural watercourses are supplemented by an extensive drainage network, including Judicial Ditch No 4 and Ditch No 27. Cultural markers of the era are visible in the local Cemetery and a Drive-in Theater located just north of the main settlement. Beyond the town limits, the landscape is defined by the rural townships of Hamlin, Riverside, and Maxwell, where numerous Gravel Pits indicate local industry alongside the river's winding path.