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1980 Map of Rice Lake

Name: 1980 Topographic Map of Rice Lake
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1981
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1981

About this map

Glacial prairie potholes and small depressions define the topography of this Ward County landscape as it appeared in the late 1970s. The southern portion of the map is dominated by Rice Lake, which serves as a recreational hub with its dedicated Public Access, Campground, and the adjacent Rice Lake Park. Significant land is also preserved for conservation within the National Waterfowl Production Area, reflecting the region's importance to migratory bird populations.

Genealogists will find value in the scattered rural institutions that survived into this era, such as Rose Valley Ch and Zion Ch. The map also preserves the locations of local burial grounds, including Zion Cem and the historically significant Early Settlers Cem. Outside of the water bodies like Mellam Lake, the terrain is marked by township divisions such as Rolling Green, Burt, and Vang, which were largely shaped by agricultural and gravel extraction activities, evidenced by several Gravel Pits found throughout the quadrangle.