1965 Map of Ely

About this map

Ely serves as the industrial and residential hub of this northern frontier, characterized by its deep-rooted connection to the iron mining industry and the vast waters of the Superior National Forest. The presence of the Pioneer Mine and the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range railroad line underscores the area's economic reliance on ore extraction during the mid-1960s. To the north and east, the town of Winton sits at the edge of Fall Lake, marking the entry to a dense network of lakes including Shagawa Lake and White Iron Lake. The map reveals a transition from the urban grid of Ely, which includes institutions like the Junior College and Lincoln School, to the untamed waterways and islands such as Lovers Island and Lambs Point. Significant depth curves provided by the Minnesota Department of Conservation offer rare underwater topography for these glacial basins.