2011 Map of Great Bend

About this map

Great Bend sits at a pronounced oxbow of the Wild Rice River, illustrating the classic river-bend settlement pattern found throughout the Red River Valley. The terrain is characterized by the meandering waterway and its smaller tributary, South Branch Antelope Creek, which drains the northern sections of the quadrangle. This 2011 survey shows a landscape dominated by a precise section-line road grid, including County Rd 15 and County Rd 16, which support the region's agricultural layout. Local genealogy and history are anchored at the Trinity Cemetery, located just south of the main town site. The map captures the intersection of natural riparian hydrology and the rigid human geometry of North Dakota's farming country, centered around the eponymous bend in the river.