1920 Map of Trout Lake

About this map

The Iron Range of Itasca County reveals its industrial and residential development shortly after the turn of the century. This military survey by the Corps of Engineers highlights the emergence of mining settlements and rail infrastructure, centered around the Great Northern Ry. Dense networks of tracks and spurs connect the established towns of Coleraine, Bovey, and Taconite, reflecting the intense extractive activity of the era. North of the mining corridor, the landscape transitions to a complex system of waterways and trails, including Prairie River and Lawrence Lake, which features a U.S.B.M. Dam. Smaller settlements like Arcturus, Marble, and Calumet are clustered along the rail lines in Greenway, providing a clear view of how the iron industry dictated the settlement patterns of northern Minnesota. This record is particularly valuable for tracing the early footprints of these mining communities and the original routes of the region's pioneering railroads.