1961 Map of Turtle Lake

About this map

The town of Turtle Lake serves as the focal point for this McLean County survey, situated at the terminus of a Northern Pacific railroad spur. This 1961 field-checked map illustrates a landscape defined by its numerous glacial potholes and wetlands, including the northern Lake Nettie National Wildlife Refuge and the substantial waters of Turtle Lake. The prairie terrain is dotted with small-scale resource extraction and rural institutions, such as a lone Mine near Cherry Lake and the St Olaf Ch in the northeast. This era shows the local infrastructure of the mid-20th century, where local education was still decentralized at sites like School No 2 and School No 3. The township grid is well-established, with drainage patterns reflected in features like Kasper Slough and Turtle Creek, which meanders south from the lake that shares its name toward the Missouri River Basin.