Loading map...

1959 Map of Watertown

Name: 1959 Topographic Map of Watertown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1980
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1980

About this map

The Rock River winds through this mid-century landscape, anchoring the city of Watertown and its surrounding agricultural townships. In the 1950s, the area served as a vital junction for the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and the Chicago and North Western railroads, which facilitated the movement of goods through small hubs like Ixonia and Ashippun. This survey captures a dense network of country schools and churches, including Northwestern College and the St Paul Sch, reflecting the community's deep-rooted educational and religious foundations.

Water plays a central role in the regional geography, from the sprawling Lac La Belle with its prominent Beggs Island to smaller bodies like Golden Lake and Goose Lake. The land is dotted with numerous Gravel Pits and quarries, particularly in the northern reaches of Emmet and Lebanon, highlighting the importance of mineral extraction to the local economy. Genealogists will find significant value in the detailed mapping of burial grounds such as Oak Hill Cem and the Pipersville Cem.