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1935 Map of Rochester

Name: 1935 Topographic Map of Rochester
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1935
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1935

About this map

Rochester sits at the convergence of the South Branch and Middle Branch Zumbro River, serving as a regional hub for medicine, agriculture, and power. The 1935 landscape is anchored by the sprawling Rochester State Hospital and the Olmsted County Fair grounds, while the Rochester Power House stands near the northern bend of the river. The surrounding townships are densely dotted with one-room schoolhouses like Coon Grove Sch, Webster Sch, and Madden Sch, reflecting a highly organized rural education system before mid-century consolidation.

Transportation networks define the era, with the Chicago and Northwestern Ry and Chicago Great Western RR threading through the city and nearby Zumbro Jct. Local industry and community life extend into the valleys, including Dresser Valley and Boardman Valley, where small settlements like Potsdam and Viola maintain their own identities with landmarks like the German Ch and Town Hall. Northward, the damming of the river is evident at Zumbro Lake, a focal point for recreation at Cedar Beach.