1953 Map of Jamestown

About this map

Jamestown and Valley City anchor this mid-century landscape of the Missouri Plateau, where the sprawling rail networks of the Northern Pacific and the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie define the region's economy. The map illustrates a transition between the undulating plains and the intricate drainage of the James River, dotted with numerous alkaline water bodies such as Chase Lake and Sibley Lake. Historical sites of importance include Whitestone Battlefield State Park, marking an 1863 conflict, and various early conservation efforts like Slade National Wildlife Refuge. Small agricultural settlements like Napoleon, Gackle, and Steele are linked by a grid of early highways and branch rail lines, reflecting the rural development of North Dakota before the widespread expansion of the interstate system.