2015 Map of McLaughlin SW

About this map

The grid-iron layout of the Great Plains is etched into the landscape of Corson County, defined by a series of precise east-west thoroughfares including 106th St and 107th St. This area of South Dakota exhibits the classic Public Land Survey System structure, where north-south section lines like 256th Ave and 257th Ave dictate the movement of both people and agriculture. The landscape is primarily shaped by gentle topographic shifts, with the roads following a rigid geometry regardless of the undulating terrain beneath them. This 2015 study highlights the enduring nature of the section-line road network, a fundamental element of rural infrastructure that has organized the region since its early settlement. The isolation of these routes, from 110th St down to 113th St, reflects a sparsely populated agricultural environment where distance is measured by the mile-square section.