1959 Map of Mitchell

About this map

The Missouri River corridor dominates this mid-century landscape, showing the massive engineering impact of the Fort Randall Dam and the formation of Lake Francis Case. This survey captures a pivotal era of South Dakota water management and transport, with the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad cutting east-to-west through towns like Plankinton and Kimball. The geography is defined by the transition from the glaciated plains around Mitchell to the dramatic breaks and buttes of the west, including the Bijou Hills and Turtle Butte. Genealogists will find a dense network of townships across several counties, including Aurora and Davison, along with traditional sites like St. Marys Church and the historic Fort Lookout. The map also delineates the extensive boundaries of the Rosebud Indian Reservation and Yankton Indian Reservation, reflecting the complex cultural and political jurisdictions of the Missouri basin.