A general view of farming land in the Braham community A view showing varying soil formations in this territory, caused by prehistoric glacial inundations. SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SURVEY OF A COMMUNITY IN NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA INTRODUCTION The town of Braham which is the center of the community described in this survey is located in the extreme northwestern corner of Isanti County, State of Minnesota. The territory tributary to this village lies divided between the four counties of Isanti, Chisago, Pine, and Kanabec. The parts of these counties covered by the survey are indicated by the accompanying map. A reference to this will help one to understand not only important facts as to the topography, soil conditions, and natural vegetation, but will also help to give a better understanding as to the causes and incidents of the early settlement and development of the community. As to the geology and topography in general, the Geological Survey of the State of Minnesota, Vol. II beginning on page 399, has the following description: The greater part of this district is an approximately level plain of gravel and sand, belonging to the modified drift. Some portions of this tract are slightly or moderately undulating or rolling, with the elevation ten to twenty-five feet, rarely more, above the depressions and lakes; but it is mainly almost level with the sloughs and lakes only five to fifteen feet lower than the general surface. Several considerable areas, not included in this tract of modified drift, remain to be described in the ensuing paragraph. "A belt of morainic till extends across Maple Ridge and Stanchfield, the northern tier of townships in Isanti County, and Nessel, the most northwestern township of Chisago County, having a prominently rolling or hilly contour, with the greatest heights forty to seventy-five feet above the hollows and lakes. "The last act of the glacial epoch was to spread a vast mantle of gravel and sand, due to the melting of the glacier and the drainage from further north. . A bayou-like flood of muddy, tumultuous water, partly from the Mississippi Valley and partly from the St. Croix swept over this district. . "At a somewhat later stage the rivers cut into this gravel expanse, leaving a broken margin, and still later were again and again reduced. Thus there were formed three or more levels of gravel piains, the upper |