1956 Map of Jamestown

About this map

The James River valley anchors this mid-century portrait of south-central North Dakota, where the Northern Pacific and Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie railroads define the movement of grain and goods. At Jamestown, the convergence of major rail lines and the presence of the State Hospital and North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station underscore its role as a regional hub. The landscape is characterized by the glaciated terrain of the Missouri Coteau, evidenced by a dense concentration of alkali and fresh-water basins such as Long Lake and Sibley Lake. These wetlands support a series of conservation sites, including the Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge. In the south, Whitestone Hill Battlefield Park serves as a significant historical marker within a grid of small farming communities like Napoleon, Edgeley, and Ashley.