1918 Map of La Moure

About this map

The James River Valley dominates this early twentieth-century landscape, carving a serpentine path through the southeastern North Dakota prairie. This survey, revised by Herbert A. Hard in 1916, reveals a region defined by its rapid agricultural development and dense railroad network. The town of La Moure serves as a central hub where the Northern Pacific and the Fargo and Southwestern Br converge near the river's banks. To the south, Oakes appears as a critical junction for multiple lines, including the Chicago and Northwestern and the James River and Oakes Br. The map's township structure is clearly marked, showing established settlements like Grand Rapids, Berlin, and Verona. This period represents the peak of the small-town rail economy before the consolidation of rural post offices, capturing places like Glover, Clement, and Silverleaf at their height.