1964 Map of Great Bend

About this map

The Wild Rice River carves a complex, winding path through the southern half of this Richland County landscape, defining the rural character of the region in the mid-1960s. The village of Great Bend sits near a prominent loop in the river, serving as a focal point for the surrounding agricultural townships of Brandenburg, Mooreton, Center, and Summit. This survey captures the area just as the Northern Pacific railroad line provided a vital north-south link through the prairie, passing through the heart of the settlement. To the south of the village, Trinity Cem stands as a significant local landmark for genealogical research. The northern reaches are drained by the South Branch Antelope Creek, illustrating the transition from the deeply meandered river valley to the more linear drainage patterns of the open North Dakota plains.