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1939 Map of Pembina

Name: 1939 Topographic Map of Pembina
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1958
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1958

About this map

The Red River of the North serves as the primary artery of this borderland landscape, winding along the boundary between North Dakota and Minnesota. At the northernmost edge, the international crossing at Noyes features the U S Customs station, highlighting the area's strategic importance for trans-border transit during the late 1930s. A dense network of rural infrastructure is evident through the numerous schoolhouses dotting the sections, including the Hull Sch, South Hill Sch, and North Red River Sch, reflecting a settled agricultural community before the consolidation of mid-century school districts.

Transportation is defined by the convergence of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads, which linked towns like Pembina and Humboldt to wider markets. Waterway travel is still represented by the Joliette Ferry, a critical crossing point before the widespread construction of modern bridges. Smaller waterways like Two Rivers and the Joe River feed into the main channel, while the Icelandic Cem near Pembina stands as a marker of the specific ethnic heritage that shaped this Red River Valley region.