1973 Map of Strum

About this map

The Buffalo River valley serves as the primary corridor for settlement and industry in this portion of Trempealeau County, following a northwest-to-southeast path through the landscape. The Chicago and North Western railroad parallels the river, connecting the village of Eleva to the larger community of Strum. This rail-and-river network supported a local economy of agriculture and resource extraction, evidenced by numerous gravel pits and sandpits along the valley floor. Educational and civic infrastructure is clustered around these nodes, including the Central Area High Sch located between the two settlements. To the south, the terrain becomes more varied as it rises toward Bennett Ridge. This area is defined by a series of named drainages like Trout Creek and Chimney Rock Creek, which flow through valleys such as Berg Valley and Adams Valley. The southern portion of the sheet also features the Chimney Rock State Public Hunting Grounds, indicating a transition from the industrial valley floor to managed natural spaces and quarries.