1981 Map of Watertown

About this map

South Fork Crow River winds through the heart of this landscape, anchoring the settlement of Watertown near the borders of Carver and Wright counties. The early 1980s environment shows a distinct transition from traditional agriculture to managed conservation, evidenced by the Waconia State Wildlife Management Area on the northern shore of Lake Waconia. The presence of the Luce Line Trail and the Burlington Northern railroad lines highlight the importance of these transit corridors in shaping local growth. Genealogists will find significant detail in the numerous rural burial grounds, including Trinity Cem, Swede Lake Cem, and Oakland Cem, which serve as markers for the early families of Franklin and Independence townships. From the clustered residential streets of St. Bonifacius to the scattered Gravel Pits, the map documents a community deeply connected to its glacial lakes and river valley.