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1929 Map of Albia

Name: 1929 Topographic Map of Albia
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Monroe County coalfields and the central hub of Albia dominate this 1920s landscape, reflecting an era when southern Iowa was a powerhouse of rail-dependent industry. The map captures the complex social and economic infrastructure of the mining district, featuring company towns like Buxton and Hiteman, which were significant centers of African American and immigrant labor during the early twentieth century. These settlements are linked by a dense network of transit, including the Albia and Centerville Electric Ry and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR.

Industrial sites such as the Rex 4 Mine, Smoky Hollow Mine, and Hiteman Mine No 10 are shown alongside a surprisingly dense array of country schools, including Opposition Sch, Egypt Sch, and Halfway Prairie Sch. The presence of the County Farm and landmarks like the Eveland Bridge across the Des Moines River illustrate the established civic and physical connections of the county seat at the peak of its coal-era development.