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1933 Map of Ely

Name: 1933 Topographic Map of Ely
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1961
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1961

About this map

The iron mining operations of the Vermilion Range dominate this northern Minnesota landscape during the early 1930s. The town of Ely serves as the industrial hub, closely flanked by the Pioneer Mines and Zenith and Sibley Mines, which were critical to the regional economy. This industrial presence is contrasted by the dense recreational and conservation footprint within the Superior National Forest, featuring numerous seasonal outposts like Burnside Lodge, YMCA Camp, and the Halfway CCC Camp.

Transportation and utility infrastructure are well-defined, with the Duluth and Iron Range RR providing the essential link for ore transport, while a Power Plant at Fall Lake near Winton suggests the early electrification of the mines. The map reveals an intricate glacial geography of interconnected water bodies such as Burntside Lake, Shagawa Lake, and White Iron Lake, dotted with family-named points and islands like Hartley Pt and Miller Pt. Local education is represented by the Savoy Sch and White Iron Sch, reflecting the small communities that supported the timber and mining trades.