1985 Map of Hillsboro

About this map

The agricultural landscape of the Red River Valley and the eastern North Dakota plains is defined by a rigorous grid of section lines and the prominent corridor of the Burlington Northern railroad. In the mid-1980s, the region's economy and social structure centered on rail towns like Hillsboro, Mayville, and Portland, where the infrastructure for grain transport and local governance concentrated. This survey documents the intricate drainage network vital to the prairie, including the Goose River and the complex system of canals such as Miller Drain and Blanchard Drain that manage the flat terrain. Local history is anchored by sites like Sherbrooke and the Mayville Cem, while conservation areas like the Fullers Lake State Wildlife Management Area and Bald Hill Reservoir provide a contrast to the surrounding farmland.