2021 Map of Frederick SW

About this map

The Elm River and Elm Lake define the drainage of this northern South Dakota landscape, where the waters cut through a high-plain topography of small wetlands and depressions. Spanning the McPherson Co Brown Co line, the map illustrates a strictly organized section-line road system, including routes such as 106th St and 373rd Ave, that partitions the land into precise agricultural squares. The meandering course of the river contrasts sharply with these rigid survey lines. Near the southern edge, the ephemeral Dry Run underscores the seasonal nature of water in this region, a vital factor for the homesteaders who established the farms and townships documented in this modern survey.