2019 Map of Viking SW

About this map

Black River meanders through this portion of the Red River Valley, defining a landscape of low-lying wetlands and prairie on the boundary of Pennington and Polk counties. The map documents a significant historical transportation corridor following the Pembina Trail, also labeled as Pembina Trl Nw in various sections. This historic oxcart route, once a vital link between the Red River Colony and the Mississippi River, runs parallel to the modern drainage of Goose Lake Swamp. The rural character of the area is anchored by the Black River Cem near the southern edge of the survey, serving the local farming community defined by a rigid section-line road network including Center St W and Co Hwy 8. The persistence of water features like Goose Lake amidst the agricultural grid illustrates the enduring hydrology of this glacial lake plain.