1953 Map of Savo SE

About this map

Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge dominates the eastern edge of this mid-century Brown County landscape, where the waters of the Mud Lake Reservoir are managed via the Houghton Dam. This 1953 survey captures a rural township structure organized into sections across Savo, Liberty, Richland, Greenfield, Brainard, and Shelby. The map reveals a high density of rural schoolhouses, including Wilmsen Sch, Bushby Sch, and Martilla Sch, highlighting the importance of localized education for the farming community. An interesting point of transition is noted at the Himango Sch (Abandoned), signaling shifts in the local population. Geologic features like several Flowing Wells and numerous Gravel Pits indicate the practical extraction of natural resources from the South Dakota plains during this era.