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1895 Map of Lamoure

Name: 1895 Topographic Map of Lamoure
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1910
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1910

About this map

The James River snakes through the heart of the eastern North Dakota prairies in this late nineteenth-century survey, anchoring a network of early railroad towns and township divisions. Settlement follows the river and the intersecting rail lines, with Lamoure serving as a central hub where the Northern Pacific R. R. crosses the waterway. Further south, the town of Oakes emerges as a significant rail junction, positioned at the nexus of the Chicago and Northwestern R. R. and the Minneapolis St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie R. R.

Tracing the section lines reveals smaller, established community centers like Grand Rapids, Yorktown, and the river landing at Port Emma. The landscape is characterized by the broad valley of the James, flanked by minor elevations like Bearden Hillock and the water-filled depressions of Twin Lakes. This document captures the region during a period of rapid agrarian expansion, illustrating how the iron horse dictated the placement of grain elevators and post offices across LaMoure and Dickey counties.