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2021 Map of Ortley

Name: 2021 Topographic Map of Ortley
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2021
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2021

About this map

Ortley sits atop the glacial landscape of the Coteau des Prairies, a region defined by its distinct topography and network of wetlands. This section of Roberts County is characterized by a high concentration of water bodies, including Bill Smith Slough and Pearson Slough, which drain toward the headwaters of the Big Sioux River in the south. The settlement pattern follows a rigorous grid of section lines, though the path of Route 12 and the historic Yellowstone Trl cut across this geometry, marking the primary east-west corridor through the township.

Local heritage is anchored by sites such as the Ortley Cem and Lebanon Lutheran Cem, providing essential points of reference for genealogical research. The map also delineates the convergence of several county boundaries, where Roberts, Day, and Grant counties meet. These jurisdictional lines, alongside the detailed labeling of rural routes like New Main St N and Co Hwy 24, reflect the persistent agricultural and transport framework of this northeastern South Dakota prairie upland.