1964 Map of Sanborn

About this map

Sanborn sits as the central hub of this prairie landscape, where the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad cuts a straight east-west line through O'Brien Co. This mid-century survey reveals an agricultural community defined by the intricate drainage of the Floyd River and its various tributaries, including Engels Creek and Sweeney Creek. The map documents the spatial relationship between the town and its local landmarks, such as Roseland Cem to the north and St Cecilia Cem to the south. Numerous Gravel Pits and Gravel Pits dot the countryside, particularly near the river bends, indicating the local extraction industry that supported road building and infrastructure. To the south, the terrain of Summit township gives way to the headwaters of Mill Creek, illustrating the divide between the Floyd and Big Sioux drainage basins.