1949 Map of Ree Heights NW

About this map

Lake Louise Recreational Area and Wildlife Refuge anchors the southern portion of this 1949 topographic study, where the waters of Lake Louise and Wolf Creek dominate a landscape otherwise characterized by township sections and rural school districts. The placement of schools such as Van Zee Sch, East Campbell Sch, and Steptoe Sch reflects the mid-century agrarian settlement pattern of Hand County, where local education was dispersed to serve family farms. Multiple instances of a Flowing Well suggest the importance of groundwater management in this part of South Dakota. The map also delineates drainage patterns via Lost Creek and establishes the boundaries of rural townships including Ontario, Fairview, Campbell, Alden, Riverside, and Greenleaf, providing a clear view of the area's civil organization before modern consolidation changed the rural footprint.