1953 Map of Wendte

About this map

The Bad River carves a deeply winding path through this central South Dakota landscape, defining the character of the Van Metre and Banner regions. The unincorporated settlement of Wendte serves as a small anchor in the northern reaches, situated near the confluence of Deep Creek and the river. Transport in the early 1950s is dominated by the Chicago and North Western railroad, which parallels the river's northern banks. Education in this ranching country is represented by the isolated Matthew Sch, reflecting the sparse distribution of rural communities across the Stanley and Jones County line. The terrain is marked by numerous seasonal drainages like Tomahawk Creek and Plum Creek, with a single Flowing Well noted in the east, highlighting the importance of water access in this semi-arid environment during the mid-century era.