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1949 Map of Riga

Name: 1949 Topographic Map of Riga
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1949
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1949

About this map

Great Northern railroad tracks cut a diagonal path across this McHenry County landscape, anchoring the small settlement of Riga. The area's social fabric in the late 1940s is defined by its distributed rural school system, including Indiana Sch, White Rock Sch, Riga Sch, and Rose Hill Sch, which served the surrounding agricultural townships of Gilmore and Riga.

Glacial depressions and water bodies like Buffalo Lake and Rock Lake dot the prairie, contrasting with the structured grid of the public land survey system. A notable specialized landmark is the U S Tree Planting Station in the eastern section, reflecting mid-century conservation efforts in the Great Plains. Genealogists may find interest in the centrally located Thompson Cem, which provides a specific point of reference for early local families.