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1951 Map of Virginia

Name: 1951 Topographic Map of Virginia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1975
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1975

About this map

Mesabi Mountain and the Laurentian Divide define the industrial landscape of the Iron Range during the mid-20th century. This survey documents the intensive mining operations surrounding Virginia and Mountain Iron, where deep open pits like the Wacootah Mine and Alpena Mine dominate the geography. The map reveals the proximity of residential neighborhoods to these massive excavations, with the town of Franklin and the streets of Virginia, including Chestnut St, pressing directly against the mine boundaries.

Rail transport is central to the area's economy, with the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range and Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific lines threading between tailings ponds and ore dumps. Civic life is well-documented through local landmarks such as Olcott Park, Greenwood Cemetery, and several educational institutions like Horace Mann Sch. North of the industrial zone, the Superior National Forest and Sandy Lake offer a stark contrast to the worked earth of the mining districts.