1962 Map of Snyder Lake

About this map

The prairie landscape of Towner County is defined here by the intersection of early North Dakota rail infrastructure and vital water conservation efforts. Two major rail lines, the Great Northern and the Soo Line, cross through the townships of Crocus and Virginia, signaling the agricultural importance of the region in the early 1960s. The presence of the Snyder Lake National Wildlife Refuge and Brumba National Wildlife Refuge highlights the ecological significance of the coulee systems. Local history is anchored by the small settlements of Arndt and Crocus, while family genealogy is preserved at Brumbaugh Cem and Zion Cem. This survey illustrates a period where small-scale gravel extraction and the management of Snyder Lake were central to the local economy and land use.