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1980 Map of Houston

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Houston
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The Root River valley serves as the central artery for this southeastern Minnesota landscape, where the town of Houston sits at the confluence with the South Fork Root River. The river's path is shadowed by the rail line of the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific, illustrating the historic dependence of these valley settlements on the rail-and-water corridor. Much of the surrounding high ground and steep coulees are managed as part of the Richard J Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, preserving the wooded character of the Yucatan Oak Ridge and Pleasant Hill uplands.

Genealogists will find a wealth of burial sites across the township, including Money Creek Cem, Johnstons Cem, and Hillside Cem. Smaller valleys like Skunk Hollow and Hop Hollow cut into the ridges, leading to outlying communities such as Money Creek and Paradise Valley. The presence of several Quarries and a Gaging Station on the river highlights the local industries and natural resource management of the era.