1953 Map of Jamestown

About this map

The James River valley serves as the central anchor for this mid-century portrait of southeastern North Dakota, where the regional hub of Jamestown sits at the intersection of critical prairie infrastructure. The landscape is defined by a dense network of major railroads, including the Northern Pacific and the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie, which connected agricultural shipping points like Spiritwood, Medina, and La Moure. Outside the primary settlements, the map reveals an extensive system of water conservation and heritage sites, from the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge to the Whitestone Hill Battlefield Park. Local institutions such as the North Dakota State Hospital and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station underscore the area's role as a center for state services and agrarian research during the 1950s.