1963 Map of Key West

About this map

Keystone and Huntsville townships characterize the orderly grid of the Red River Valley as it appeared in the early 1960s. This agricultural landscape in Polk County is defined by an extensive drainage system, including County Ditch No 126 and County Ditch No 38, which reclaimed the flat prairie for farming. The Northern Pacific railroad runs diagonally through the southern sections, anchoring small rail-stop settlements like Key West and Davidson. In the southwest corner, the winding path of Grand Marais provides a natural contrast to the strictly surveyed section lines. Local history is anchored by the Nesbit Cem, located near the junction of Nesbit and Sullivan townships, serving as a permanent record of the families who settled this productive corner of Minnesota.