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1916 Map of Tomah

Name: 1916 Topographic Map of Tomah
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1916
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1916

About this map

The Sparta Target Range Military Reservation dominates the northwest corner of this 1914 survey, a significant landscape feature in a region otherwise defined by intricate valley systems. Settlement patterns follow the topography, with rail hubs like Norwalk and Wilton positioned along the Chicago and Northwestern line, while Tomah anchors the northeast where the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul railroad passes through. This era shows a dense network of local infrastructure, including numerous numbered rural schools and the Town Hall in Adrian.

The terrain is marked by distinct named points like Bald Bluff, Engine Rock, and Limekiln Hill, which overlook deeply carved valleys such as Coles Valley and Leon Valley. These topographical features often served as essential landmarks for early travelers and homesteaders. Smaller communities like St Marys, Oil City, and Leon appear as established crossroads, providing a clear picture of Monroe County’s rural development before the modernization of the mid-20th century.