1951 Map of Kinney

About this map

The Laurentian Divide cuts across this iron-rich landscape, marking a significant hydrologic boundary where waters flow either toward the Arctic or the Atlantic. In the early 1950s, the Mesabi Range’s industrial footprint is clearly visible through a dense network of excavations and infrastructure. The map detail highlights the intense mining activity around the village of Kinney and the western edge of Mountain Iron, dominated by massive operations like the Atkins Mine, Whiteside Mine, and the Seville-Midway Mine. Numerous labels for Mine Dumps and active quarries illustrate the massive displacement of earth required to feed the nation's steel mills. Outside the industrial zones, the northern half of the quadrangle transitions into the protected timberlands of the Superior National Forest and the Superior State Game Refuge, where small rural landmarks like the Anderson Sch stand in contrast to the heavy industry to the south.