1968 Map of Bonaparte

About this map

The Des Moines River carves a deep valley through this corner of Van Buren County, anchoring the historic riverfront settlements of Bonaparte, Bentonsport, and Vernon. By the late 1960s, the landscape reflects a transition from nineteenth-century river commerce to a mix of mid-century infrastructure and agriculture. The Chicago Rock Island and Pacific railroad tracks follow the river's north bank, while the Burlington and Quincy line cuts through the southern reaches near Farmington. Genealogy researchers can find numerous family-named burial grounds dotting the upland plateaus, such as Bentonsport Cem, Thomson Cem, and Steinmeyer Cem. The presence of the Bonaparte Municipal Airfield and the development of Indian Lake Park illustrate how the area's land use evolved to include regional recreation and aviation alongside traditional limestone quarries.