1982 Map of Austin West

About this map

The agrarian and industrial landscape of the Freeborn and Mower County line is defined by the steady drainage patterns of Turtle Creek and an extensive system of man-made waterways like Judicial Ditch No 24. At the center of this rural-to-urban transition, the town of Oakland sits along the tracks of the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific railroad, reflecting the importance of rail transport to the region's grain and livestock economy in the early 1980s. To the northwest, the Carey State Wildlife Management Area and Hickory Lake provide a natural contrast to the structured grid of the surrounding townships. On the eastern edge of the sheet, the city of Austin expands into its western suburbs, including the residential pocket of Austin Acres and the Vo-Tech Sch, showing the growth of this regional hub beyond its historical center.