2011 Map of Derrick NW

About this map

Ramsey County’s agricultural landscape is defined by the rigid section-line grid that organizes the North Dakota prairie. This survey shows the region as it appeared in the early 21st century, dominated by extensive wetlands and prairie potholes that interrupt the straight paths of local thoroughfares like 90th Ave NE and 93rd Ave NE. The terrain is characterized by these numerous small bodies of water, which complicate the otherwise uniform development of the rural road network. Navigating through the area relies on a series of numbered routes such as 74th St NE and 70th St NE, which facilitate movement between the dispersed farmsteads of this northern plains environment. The map captures a moment of modern land use where traditional land divisions must reconcile with the natural hydrology of the glaciated plains.