1951 Map of Hibbing

About this map

The Mahoning-Hull-Rust Mine dominates this 1950s landscape, illustrating the massive scale of iron extraction on the Mesabi Range. This survey captures the complex spatial relationship between the expanding open-pit mines and the urban centers of Hibbing and Chisholm. The map reveals the encroaching industrial footprint, with vast Mine Dumps and tailings ponds surrounding established neighborhoods like North Hibbing and Brooklyn. The Laurentian Divide cuts across the northern section, marking a significant hydrologic boundary amidst the heavy industry. Transportation networks are deeply integrated into the mining economy, featuring the Great Northern and Duluth Missabe and Iron Range railroads. Beyond the pits, local community life is visible in the numerous schools such as Alice Sch and Cobb-Cook Sch, and the presence of the Mesaba Country Club and Chisholm State Game Refuge.