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1932 Map of Alma

Name: 1932 Topographic Map of Alma
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1932
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1932

About this map

The Mississippi River creates a dynamic western boundary for this 1932 survey, characterized by a complex network of backwaters such as Buffalo Slough, Pomme de Terre Slough, and the West Newton Chute. The town of Alma is perched along the narrow terrace between the river and the steep bluffs, served by the Chicago Burlington and Quincy RR and State Highway No 35. Further inland, the terrain breaks into a series of ridges and valleys, including Norwegian Valley and German Valley Creek, reflecting the ethnic settlement patterns of the Driftless Area.

Rural life in the early 1930s is documented through a dense distribution of one-room schoolhouses like Island Sch, Little Bluebell Sch, and Cascade Sch. Smaller community centers such as Modena, Herold, and Cream provide focal points for the surrounding agricultural landscape. The mapping also notes early conservation efforts with the U S Game Refuge Lookout Cabin situated high above the river bottomlands.