1985 Map of Gettysburg

About this map

The agricultural heartland of the Missouri Plateau in north-central South Dakota is defined here by the Burlington Northern railroad lines that link a chain of small grain-elevator towns. At the intersection of these rail corridors and county roads lie established communities such as Ipswich, Bowdle, and Gettysburg, the latter serving as a vital hub for the surrounding plains. The landscape is characterized by a dense network of conservation areas, including numerous National Waterfowl Production Areas and State Game Production Areas that punctuate the prairie near Swan Lake and Dry Lake. Small prairie settlements like Tolstoy, Onaka, and Lebanon illustrate the typical township settlement pattern of the mid-1980s. Local history is anchored by landmarks such as Southside Cem near Ipswich and several municipal airports, reflecting the region's reliance on both rail and air for connectivity across the vast open spaces of Potter, Edmunds, and Faulk counties.