1930 Map of Strum

About this map

Strum and Eleva anchor the southern reaches of this landscape where the Buffalo River winds through the townships of Albion and Unity. This region of Trempealeau and Eau Claire counties is defined by a dense network of country schoolhouses, such as the Norwegian High School and York Valley School, which served the farming families scattered across the numerous valley systems like Sigmund Valley and Ramstead Valley. The transportation corridor of the Chicago St Paul Minneapolis and Omaha railroad parallels the river, facilitating the movement of goods between the small rail-stop villages. To the north, the terrain transitions into more rolling uplands near Cleghorn and Brackett, dotted with local landmarks like Zion Church and the Hadleyville Cemetery. The map captures a moment in time when the rural school and township system provided the primary social and educational framework for these central Wisconsin communities.