1957 Map of Saint Cloud

About this map

Central Minnesota agriculture and industry meet at the Mississippi River in the mid-1950s. This Army Map Service compilation highlights the dense concentration of lake-country settlements like Alexandria and Glenwood, which are interconnected by the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads. The landscape is defined by its glacial hydrology, featuring significant water bodies such as Lake Minnewaska, Lake Osakis, and the deep Green Lake near Willmar. In the east, the regional hub of Saint Cloud sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Sauk River, marked by industrial activity including a local Quarry. Further north, Sartell Swamp provides a contrast to the surrounding grid of section lines and towns. The map documents the primary transportation corridors of the era, including U.S. 52 and U.S. 12, which facilitated the movement of goods and people across the prairie and lake regions during this post-war period of growth.