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1956 Map of Agency

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Agency
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1978
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1978

About this map

The Des Moines River carves a winding path through the heart of the Iowa landscape shown here, serving as a corridor for major transportation lines including the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroads. The settlement of Agency stands as a primary hub near the northern border, while smaller points like Cliffland sit directly along the river's bend. This mid-century topography reveals a rural society structured around local gathering points, evidenced by a high density of country schools such as O'Connor Sch and Hubler Sch.

The southern portion of the sheet across the Wapello Co Davis Co line is notably rich in landmarks for family researchers, including Mars Hill Ch and several burial grounds like Fiedler Cem and Sioc Cem. Numerous drainage systems like Little Soap Creek and Turkey Creek dissect the terrain, creating a complex network of ridges where isolated landmarks like Alpine Log Ch and Miller Chapel were established away from the main river valley.