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1956 Map of Grand Forks

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Grand Forks
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1956
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Red River of the North defines the interstate boundary between North Dakota and Minnesota, anchoring a vast agricultural landscape at the height of the post-war era. This mid-century survey documents the urban centers of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks during a period of steady regional growth. The map reveals an intricate network of drainage and transport, where the Red Lake River and Goose River feed into the main valley, and railroads like the Great Northern and Soo Line connect small elevators and grain-handling settlements.

Local landmarks such as Pleasant View Church and Pleasant View School provide valuable touchstones for genealogists, while the eastern portion of the map covers the White Earth Indian Reservation and several conservation areas like the Little Goose National Wildlife Refuge. The grid of section lines and township boundaries illustrates the systematic land division that shaped the Red River Valley’s settlement patterns.