1969 Map of Ross NW

About this map

White Earth River meanders through the western reaches of this North Dakota landscape, carving a distinct valley through the rolling topography of Mountrail County. The area is defined by a series of kettle lakes and depressions, most notably the southern tip of Powers Lake and the marshy shores of Cottonwood Lake. Settlement patterns in the late 1960s were centered around small community hubs, evidenced by the Cottonwood Lake Ch and an adjacent Cem located east of the water. This survey, conducted under the administration of Governor William L. Guy, illustrates a rural economy reliant on the land, with local landmarks like a Townhall and a Gravel Pit serving the surrounding township sections. The map provides a clear record of the intersection between the natural glacial prairie and the established section-line roads that dictated North Dakota's early rural development.