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1948 Map of Voltaire

Name: 1948 Topographic Map of Voltaire
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1965
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1965

About this map

The Souris River meanders through the northern plains of McHenry County, defining a landscape of glacial depressions and prairie water bodies in this mid-century survey. The small settlement of Voltaire serves as a focal point in the southern portion of the sheet, situated along the tracks of the Minneapolis St Paul and Sault Ste Marie railroad. This rail corridor was essential to the agricultural economy of the era, providing a vital link for local transport and commerce across the rural townships of Hendrickson, Lebanon, Brown, and Voltaire.

Local life is anchored by community landmarks such as Hjerdal Ch, while the distribution of Howe Sch and Roach Sch across the open terrain illustrates the decentralized nature of rural education at the time. The presence of Walley Cem and Westgaard Cem near the river bluffs provides valuable points of interest for genealogists. The topography is marked by numerous basins, including Stink Lake, Lake Hester, and Erickson Lake, which characterize the distinctive prairie pothole region of North Dakota.