1845 General Land Office Map of Wisconsin

This is an 1845 General Land Office map of Wisconsin Territory and one of the earliest acquirable specific maps of Wisconsin. Coverage extends from Fort Snelling in modern-day Minnesota to Green Bay and from the headwaters of the Montreal River to Dubuque in modern-day Iowa. Native American settlements are labeled, along with the Fort Snelling, Dubuque, Prairie Du Chien, and a Mormon settlement along the Mississippi. Numerous lakes are illustrated, along with several rivers, which have falls and lakes along their courses identified as well.

Townships

Townships are platted in areas near the Mississippi and Wisconsin Rivers, along the Fox River and near Green Bay, and around the Plover Portage further up the Wisconsin River. Many townships are marked with an 'S', indicating that they have been subdivided and sold. Those marked by solid black lines and no 'S' were surveyed or under contract. Townships marked by dotted lines were recommended to be surveyed.

A Short Explanation of a Township

The township was created as the measure of the Public Land Survey System, which was first widely implemented to survey the Northwest Ordinance. The Public Land Survey System allowed for the systematic surveying and mapping of any territory gained by the United States. It played a pivotal role in subsequent settlement and administration new territories and states. The work of the survey influenced American Indian removal efforts, town building, railroad grants, new settlement, and more. Moreover, the efforts of the Federal Land Survey were significant in centralizing power with the Federal Government at the expense of states.

Publication History and Census

This map was created by the General Land Office and published by Smith and McClelland in Washington, D.C. It is well represented in institutional collections but is scarce on the market.