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1916 Map of Boone

Name: 1916 Topographic Map of Boone
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1943
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1943

About this map

The Des Moines River carves a deep, winding valley through this central Iowa landscape, defining the topography of the region before the First World War. The city of Boone serves as a major rail hub, where the Chicago and Northwestern intersects with the Fort Dodge Des Moines and Southern and the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul railroads. This dense network of tracks facilitated the movement of coal and agricultural goods, supporting riverfront settlements like Fraser, Logansport, and Moingona.

Rural life is meticulously documented through dozens of numbered and named country schoolhouses, including the Coal Valley School, Incline School, and Hickory Grove School. Local history researchers can identify vanished landmarks such as the Poor Farm and smaller hamlets like Centerville and Mackey. Tributaries like Mineral Branch and Honey Creek cut through the bluffs, illustrating the complex drainage system feeding the main river valley.