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1913 Map of Fergus Falls

Name: 1913 Topographic Map of Fergus Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1913
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1913

About this map

Fergus Falls serves as the regional anchor in this 1913 survey, where the confluence of the Otter Tail River and Pelican River drives the local economy. The landscape is heavily dotted with a staggering number of numbered schoolhouses, such as School No 203 and School No 115, reflecting the dense rural settlement pattern of the early 20th century. Outside the city center, the State Insane Asylum stands as a significant landmark of the era's social infrastructure.

Transportation is defined by the Northern Pacific RR, which connects smaller grain and trade stops like Carlisle and Elizabeth. The topography is a complex network of glacial kettle lakes, including the large Lake Jewett and Lake Oscar, which dictated the winding paths of early roads and the placement of township centers like Erhard. This document provides a clear look at Otter Tail County before the consolidation of rural school districts and modern highway expansion.