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1961 Map of Roan

Name: 1961 Topographic Map of Roan
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1963
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1963

About this map

The Snake River meanders across this northwestern Minnesota landscape, defining the character of the borderlands between Marshall and Polk counties in the early 1960s. This survey illustrates a rural region organized by townships like McCrea and Brislet, where the drainage patterns of the South Branch Snake River intersect with the rigid geometry of sectional surveying and rail corridors. The settlement of Roan serves as a focal point along the Great Northern railroad, reflecting the importance of transportation to these farming communities.

Industrial and transit infrastructure is concentrated along the rail lines, with the Soo Line cutting diagonally across the northern portion of the map. Traces of local enterprise are visible through several Gravel Pits found near the rail sidings. The presence of the Warren Airport in the central western section points to the area's mid-century modernization, providing a contrast to the ancient, winding path of the river system that continues to dominate the terrain.