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1950 Map of Tokio

Name: 1950 Topographic Map of Tokio
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1952
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1952

About this map

The Great Northern RR cuts a diagonal path across this 1950 landscape, connecting the village of Tokio to the wider region. This area of Benson County is defined by the variable shoreline of the Devils Lake basin, which at this mid-century moment shows distinct reaches like Black Tiger Bay, South Bay, and Mission Bay. The topography is a complex arrangement of glacial depressions and ridges, most notably Devils Heart Butte, which rises sharply above the surrounding prairie.

Local life is anchored by small community centers like Saint Michael and the Wood Lake Ch near the shores of Wood Lake. The presence of School No 3 and scattered Gravel Pits reflects a rural economy tied to the land and the rail line. The map captures the transitional water levels of the era, recording numerous smaller bodies like Spring Lake, Mallard Lake, and Square Lake that dot the basin floor.