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1951 Map of Gilbert

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Gilbert
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

Laurentian Divide and Missabe Mountain form the geologic backdrop of this iron-rich landscape during a period of intense industrial activity. The city of Gilbert serves as the primary hub, surrounded by massive open-pit operations like the Gilbert Mine and Schley Mine. The extraction of ore is facilitated by the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range railroad, which weaves through complex mine dumps and active pits that define the northern half of the quadrangle.

South of the industrial zone, the terrain shifts into a broad State Game Refuge dominated by the winding Embarrass River and St Louis River. Significant water bodies such as Ely Lake and Esquagama Lake provide a counterpoint to the heavy industry, featuring recreational sites like the Eveleth Scout Camp. The transition from the dense grid of settlements like Sparta to the marshy lowlands near Pleasant Lake illustrates the duality of the Mesabi Range economy and the natural environment of St. Louis County.