2016 Map of Downer

About this map

Muskoda and Downer anchor this survey of the Clay County plains, where the land transitions into the riparian corridor of the Buffalo River. The topography is defined by the subtle drainage patterns of the Red River Valley, with Hay Cr carving through the southern reaches near the junction of Co Hwy 10 and Co Rd 10. This modern record reveals a highly organized agricultural landscape, partitioned by a rigid grid of section lines and gravel routes like 150th St S and 80th Ave S. The mapping of extensive wetlands throughout the central and western sections suggests a seasonally variable water table that has long influenced settlement and road placement in this part of Minnesota.