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1973 Map of Virgil

Name: 1973 Topographic Map of Virgil
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

Virgil and the surrounding agricultural townships of Vernon and Dearborn define this South Dakota prairie landscape in the early 1970s. The settlement pattern is anchored by the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad, which runs north-south through the center of the Beadle County countryside. The small community of Virgil is marked by its rail siding and a prominent Water Tank, serving as a local hub amidst a grid of section lines and fence rows.

The hydrology of the region is characterized by ephemeral drainages and wetland conservation areas, most notably the winding course of Cain Creek. Significant land use for conservation is evident at the Norwegian Slough State Public Shooting Area and the National Waterfowl Production Area, reflecting the importance of the Central Flyway. Several Gravel Pits scattered across the townships of Wolsey and Hartland indicate the local industrial extraction necessary for road maintenance in this rural corridor.