1901 Map of Denzer

About this map

Tower Rock stands as a prominent landmark in the southwestern portion of this Sauk County landscape, overlooking the complex drainage of Honey Creek and its various branches. At the turn of the century, the region's economy was anchored by the Baraboo River in the north and the Chicago and Northwestern railroad, which supported settlements like Ableman and North Freedom. The map captures a transition from the industrial activity at Lodi Mill and Lyons to the more dispersed agricultural communities of Leland, Witwen, and Denzer. The intricate contour work by Wm. H. Griffin reveals the deeply dissected terrain of the Baraboo Range, where small creeks like Skillet Creek and Seeley Creek have carved distinct valleys between the ridges of Freedom and Sumpter townships. This 1901 survey documents the early infrastructure of roads and farmsteads before modern highway development altered the local rural character.