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1971 Map of Thornapple

Name: 1971 Topographic Map of Thornapple
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1973
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1973

About this map

The Flambeau River carves a winding path through this corner of Rusk County, punctuated by the engineering of the Thornapple Dam and the riverside settlement of Port Arthur. This early 1970s landscape is a mix of active utility and receding industrial history, where the modern Soo Line tracks run parallel to a visible Old Railroad Grade that speaks to earlier logging or transit routes. The presence of the Ladysmith Lookout Tower and Air Village Landing Field indicates the area's role in regional fire monitoring and early aviation.

Small communities like Thornapple and the western edge of Ladysmith anchor the map, supported by local landmarks such as the Riverside Mission and a rural Townhall. The terrain is defined by a complex hydrography of wetlands and lakes, including Sunfish Lake, Saxton Lake, and Long Lake, while the Chippewa River touches the northwest corner, completing a picture of a well-watered timber and agricultural region.