1940 Map of Menomonie

About this map

The Cedar River and Chippewa River define the local economy and geography of this central Dunn County landscape. At the center of the sheet, Menomonie sits as a regional hub, connected to industrial satellites like Cedar Falls and Downsville via the Chicago and North Western RR. The prevalence of small rural institutions, such as Little Elk Creek Ch and dozens of country schoolhouses like Beyer Settlement Sch and Knapp Settlement Sch, illustrates a densely settled agricultural society before the consolidation of the mid-20th century. Notable land use is further evidenced by the County Asylum and County Home, reflecting early 20th-century social services located on the periphery of the main town. The formation of Lake Menomin and Tainter Lake highlights the significant hydroelectric and recreational changes along the Red Cedar waterway during this era.