1968 Map of Parker SW

About this map

Turkey Ridge rises above the southeastern South Dakota landscape, providing a prominent topographic divide between the drainages of Hurley Creek and Turkey Ridge Creek. This 1968 field-checked survey reveals a rural landscape defined by the section-line grid of the late 1960s, where small community hubs centered around country schools and churchyards. Educational life is documented through scattered landmarks like Prairie Rock Sch and Pleasant Ridge Sch, while local genealogy is anchored by sites such as Turkey Valley Cem and Bethany Cem. The southeastern corner is marked by Swan Lake, showing the area's natural hydrology before modern intensive development. The map effectively captures the townships of Marion, Norway, and Hurley at a time when traditional rural structures remained central to the region's geography.