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1955 Map of Balltown

Name: 1955 Topographic Map of Balltown
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1957
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1957

About this map

The Upper Mississippi River Wildlife and Fish Refuge dominates the central landscape of this mid-century survey, where the border between Iowa and Wisconsin is defined by the shifting channels and numerous islands of the Upper Mississippi River. Landmarks such as Hurricane Island, Rosebrook Island, and McCartney Lake illustrate the complex riparian environment before modern alterations. Along the riverbanks, the infrastructure of the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and the Chicago Burlington and Quincy railroads highlights the vital transportation corridor connecting regional trade centers.

Upland from the river, rural life is marked by a network of small settlements and neighborhood schools. The community of Balltown sits near Old Balltown, while smaller clusters like McCartney and Burton serve the surrounding farmsteads. Several local schools, including Sinners Creek Sch, Pea Ridge Sch, and Oak Ridge Sch, are spaced throughout the hills, providing a clear look at the educational and social geography of Dubuque and Grant Counties in the 1950s.