Loading map...

1948 Map of Zahl

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

USGS Topo · Published 1948

About this map

Zahl sits at the heart of this post-war survey, positioned along the Great Northern rail line in northwestern North Dakota. The landscape is characterized by a significant glacial-lake system, anchored by the expansive Lake Zahl and Shirley Lake, which are protected as part of the Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge. The terrain is shaped by numerous coulees and drainage basins, including Pats Coulee and Little Muddy Creek, reflecting the prairie pothole region's unique geography.

Rural infrastructure is concentrated around the township lines, where small institutions like the Eureka Sch served the local farming families. The map provides an intricate view of the mid-century agricultural frontier, illustrating the distribution of farmsteads and school districts across the Williams County prairie before many of these rural districts consolidated. Geologic features such as Scoria Creek and Green Lake further define the natural borders of this prairie settlement.