1985 Map of Stillwater

About this map

The St Croix River serves as the central artery for this mid-1980s look at the Minnesota-Wisconsin borderlands, winding through steep-banked valleys between Stillwater and the Twin Cities’ northeastern expansion. The landscape is defined by the heavy presence of glacial lakes, with large clusters around Chisago City and Lindstrom, while massive conservation tracts like the Carlos Avery Wildlife Management Area and the Rice Bed Creek State Wildlife Area preserve the area's wetlands and marshes. Significant riverfront landmarks such as Interstate State Park and William O'Brien State Park mark the transition from the rugged river gorge to the fertile farmland of the Apple River basin. The map reveals the established rail corridors and expanding road networks that connected agricultural hubs like New Richmond and Balsam Lake to the growing urban centers to the west.