2010 Map of Alpha

About this map

Alpha and Richfield anchor this rural landscape in Fayette County, showing the orderly agricultural grid of northeastern Iowa during the first decade of the 2000s. The area is defined by its diverse drainage patterns, where the headwaters of the Volga River and the Little Wapsipinicon River diverge, winding through a network of sections bounded by gravel roads like Vanderbilt Ave and York Ave. This intersection of water systems provided the natural basis for early settlement, though by this era, the land is dominated by large-scale farming plots. Genealogists will find the locations of Bethel Cemetery and Richfield Cemetery clearly plotted, serving as key landmarks for family history research in this corner of the state. The map also traces smaller tributaries such as Marsh Creek and Haugh Creek, which further illustrate the subtle topographic variations that have shaped local land use for generations.