2020 Map of Schaffner Creek

About this map

The Knife River flows across the southwestern corner of this North Dakota landscape, carving a low-lying valley that contrasts with the surrounding upland prairie. This area, spanning the boundary of Dunn and Mercer Counties, is defined by a sparse but organized network of rural roads such as 81st Ave SW and 15th St SW. These gravel routes connect remote agricultural lands where small landmarks serve as the primary anchors for local history. Grounded in these section lines are two notable burial sites, Saint Martins Cem and Saint John Cem, which reflect the early settlement patterns of the region's homesteading families. Water remains a defining feature of the terrain, with Schaffner Cr and Ash Coulee drawing drainage patterns across the rolling plains toward the river valley below.