1985 Map of Worthington

About this map

Worthington and its landmark Okabena Lake anchor this 1985 survey of the prairie landscape along the Minnesota-Iowa border. The map reveals a highly structured agricultural grid, punctuated by numerous glacial lakes and extensive conservation areas like the Talcot Lake State Wildlife Management Area and Kilen Woods State Park along the Des Moines River. These public lands, often bordering water bodies like Heron Lake and South Heron Lake, suggest a late 20th-century landscape where drainage ditches and wildlife management co-exist. Strategic rail corridors and highways connect regional hubs such as Slayton, Jackson, and Windom, while smaller settlements like St Kilian, Kinbrae, and Wirock indicate the persistent legacy of the rural post-office and grain-elevator network. The presence of numerous Judicial Ditch labels highlights the intensive water management necessary for the region's productive farmland.