1985 Map of Gettysburg

About this map

Glacial prairie landscapes and a network of small agricultural hubs define this mid-1980s look at north-central South Dakota. The Burlington Northern railroad serves as the primary industrial spine, connecting elevators and grain depots in towns like Ipswich, Roscoe, and Bowdle. In the western reaches, Gettysburg stands as a prominent local center, while smaller communities such as Lebanon, Seneca, and Tolstoy anchor the surrounding townships. The region is notable for its extensive conservation lands, with numerous State Game Production Areas and National Waterfowl Production Areas punctuating the grid-patterned fields. Natural features like Swan Lake and Green Lake break the expansive horizons, providing critical habitats within the prairie pothole region. This survey captures a moment of established rural infrastructure, from the Hoven Municipal Airport to the section-line roads that organize the land between Faulkton and the Missouri River breaks beyond the western map edge.