Loading map...

1896 Map of St. Paul

Name: 1896 Topographic Map of St. Paul
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1906
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1906

About this map

Mississippi River navigation and a massive web of early railroads define this late 19th-century landscape. The convergence of the Northern Pacific R.R., Chicago Great Western R.R., and Wisconsin Central R.R. highlights the region's role as a burgeoning transportation hub. Near the confluence of the rivers, Fort Snelling remains a prominent fixture, anchoring the Fort Snelling Military Reservation overlooking Pike Island.

Rural sections of Dakota Co. and Washington Co. reveal a transition from agricultural land to industrial suburbs, with South St. Paul and Inver Grove emerging along the riverbanks. To the west, the landscape is dotted with numerous small lakes like Blackhawk Lake, Thomas Lake, and Holland Lake, many of which sit within the growing townships of Egan and Rosemount. Local landmarks such as Minnehaha Falls and the residential enclaves of Merriam Park and St. Anthony Park reflect the era's rapid urban expansion.