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1913 Map of Fergus Falls

Name: 1913 Topographic Map of Fergus Falls
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Fergus Falls serves as the regional hub in this early twentieth-century survey, situated at the confluence of the Otter Tail River and the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads. The town's layout is dominated by the sprawling grounds of the State Insane Asylum to the north and numerous small lakes like Opperman Lake and One-mile Lake. To the north, the Pelican River snakes through the townships of Elizabeth and Erhards Grove, connecting smaller settlements such as Erhard and Elizabeth.

The surrounding prairie landscape is densely dotted with over twenty rural schoolhouses, including School No 83 and School No 203, reflecting a high density of small farming family units. Many water bodies carry family names, such as Haldorson Lake, Knoble Lake, and Grandrud Lake, providing valuable clues for genealogical research into the area's pioneer settlement patterns. The map captures the transition from open prairie to more wooded lakeside terrain as one moves toward Maplewood.