1952 Map of Independence

About this map

The James River meanders through the western half of this prairie landscape, carving out the wide James River Valley as it flows south toward the border of La Moure and Dickey Counties. This 1950s survey documents a rural agricultural region defined by large township divisions like Ryan, Ovid, and Greenville. The central settlement of Independence sits along the Northern Pacific railroad line, which cuts horizontally across the terrain, providing a vital transportation link for the isolated farmsteads and schools of the era. To the north, Pearl Lake stands as a prominent geographic feature, while local education centers such as School No 2 are positioned to serve the surrounding rural families. The topography is marked by numerous small depressions and sloughs typical of this North Dakota glacial plain, with the Divide indicating the subtle shifts in drainage and elevation that influenced local settlement patterns.