1953 Map of Philip SE

About this map

Bad River meanders across the central plains of Haakon County, South Dakota, in this early 1950s survey, illustrating a landscape defined by seasonal watercourses and the infrastructure of the Chicago and North Western railroad. The map documents a sparse, rural settlement pattern typical of the era, where one-room schoolhouses served as local anchors for ranching families. Significant shifts in rural education are evident with several sites already marked as derelict, including the Berry Sch and Kurth Sch. In contrast, the Magnuson Sch remains active north of the tracks. The western edge of the quadrangle is occupied by the Philip Municipal Airport, complete with a Beacon, positioned near the confluence of Grindstone Creek and the river. Numerous named drainages like Belcher Draw and Withburn Creek carve into the tableland, showing the fine-grained topography of this Missouri River Basin region.