1952 Map of Little Swan

About this map

Swan River and its major tributaries define this mid-century landscape in St. Louis County, where the hydrological network of the East Swan River and West Swan River dominates the terrain. The small community of Little Swan sits near the Little Swan Dam, representing a pocket of settlement within a predominantly wetland and forested region. The infrastructure of the era is anchored by the Great Northern railroad, which cuts a straight path across the township lines of Stuntz and Lavell. Much of the western portion of the map is occupied by the Floodwood Memorial Forest, illustrating the importance of protected timberlands and natural drainage in northern Minnesota. Other small landmarks like Onega and the winding courses of Barber Creek and Dempsey Creek provide specific points of reference for local historians and genealogists tracking land use in this river-bottom territory.