2015 Map of Ortley

About this map

The town of Ortley sits atop the glacial highlands of the Coteau des Prairies, a prominent upland plateau that separates the drainage basins of the Big Sioux and Minnesota Rivers. This 2015 survey details the intersection of regional commerce and natural hydrology, where the Big Sioux River originates amidst a complex of wetlands including Bill Smith Slough, Pearson Slough, and Anderson Lake. The map reveals a landscape strictly defined by the Public Land Survey System, with the settlement of Ortley clustered near the Ortley Cem. The convergence of Day, Roberts, and Grant counties in the southern portion of the quadrangle highlights the area's role as a tri-county borderland, where straight-line section roads like 144th St and 450th Ave negotiate the undulating terrain of the coteau.