1907 Map of Sun Prairie

About this map

Sun Prairie and the surrounding townships of Dane and Jefferson counties are defined by a complex glacial landscape and a mature late-Victorian rail network. Two primary railroad lines dictate the placement of local commerce: the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul RR serves the northern corridor through Marshall and Deansville, while the Chicago and Northwestern RR links Cottage Grove, Deerfield, and London. Between these corridors, the terrain is marked by significant wetlands like Brazee Swamp and notable heights such as Liberty Mound. The map also captures several smaller crossroad settlements, including Vilas, Nora, and Kroghville, which served as vital community hubs for rural farmsteads at the turn of the century. The drainage patterns of Waterloo Creek and Koshkonong Creek weave through the undulating hills, punctuated by Goose Lake and Mud Lake in the southeastern quadrant.