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1918 Map of Middle River

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Middle River
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

Middle River and the surrounding drainage basin of Marshall County are captured in this military compilation, showcasing a landscape defined by an extensive network of civil engineering projects. The map documents numerous numbered and lettered drainage canals, such as Jud. Ditch and Ditch No. 15, which were critical to the development of the Red River Valley’s agricultural potential during this era. These man-made channels intersect the natural path of the Old Thief River and Mud River, illustrating a period of active land reclamation and transformation.

Settlement patterns follow the Northern Pacific railroad line, where small communities and stops like Holt and Ringbo P.O. served as local hubs. For researchers, the map provides precise locations for early 20th-century rural infrastructure, including a Cem. near Holt and various School sites scattered across the townships of Huntly and Valley. The inclusion of Swamp Limits and an Original Survey line offers a rare look at the native state of the terrain before intensive ditching altered the local hydrology forever.