1950 Map of Mc Kinley

About this map

Laurentian Divide cuts through this portion of the Mesabi Range, where industrial activity and the Superior National Forest meet. The map reveals the intense mining footprint of the mid-20th century, with numerous Mine Dumps and pits surrounding the settlements of Elcor, McKinley, and Belgrade. These communities are inextricably linked to the extraction economy, served by the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range railroad that snakes through the valley. Away from the heavy industry of the south, the landscape transitions into the wooded terrain of Pike Mountain, where a Lookout Tower and the local Town Hall anchor the rural community. Water features like the Pike River and Hay Lake provide a natural contrast to the industrial excavations, while the Florenton Cem offers a point of interest for those researching local family history and the early inhabitants of these mining towns.