2018 Map of Melville

About this map

Melville stands at a central junction in this prairie landscape, where the diagonal path of US Highway 281 meets a grid of rural section roads. The terrain is defined by the glacial depressions and wetlands characteristic of the region, most notably Lake Bonita and the winding course of Pipestem Creek which meanders through the southern half of the quadrangle. The map documents the boundary between Foster Co and Stutsman Co, illustrating how the political lines of t145n r66w and t144n r66w intersect with the natural drainage patterns of the Dakota plains. This 2018 survey provides a clear view of the sparse residential footprint and the vast wetland inventory that dictates the agricultural layout of the area.