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1953 Map of Fargo

Name: 1953 Topographic Map of Fargo
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Red River of the North serves as the central artery for this mid-century landscape, dividing the growing urban hubs of Fargo and Moorhead while defining the border between North Dakota and Minnesota. This survey highlights a region dominated by the intersection of major rail corridors, including the Northern Pacific and Great Northern lines, which supported the agricultural economies of towns like Casselton, Valley City, and Wahpeton.

Beyond the river valleys, the map captures the transition into the Sand Hills and the preserved wetlands of the Storm Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge. Traces of early settlement are visible in rural landmarks such as the Sheyenne Valley Church and numerous prairie towns such as Kindred and Wyndmere, reflecting the established network of the Red River Valley just before the interstate era transformed regional travel.