2022 Map of Burlington

About this map

The Mississippi River forms the central character of this 2022 survey, acting as the state boundary between Burlington, Iowa, and the lowlands of Illinois. The map documents the intricate riverine landscape of the mid-21st century, where the main channel is flanked by a complex system of side-channels and islands including O'Connell Slough, Rush Chute, and Burlington Island. On the Iowa side, the dense street grid of the city climbs away from the river, centered on the Des Moines County Courthouse and extending past the expansive Aspen Grove Cem. Local family history is uniquely preserved through the inclusion of several private burial grounds such as the Meyers Family Plot, Cowles Farm Plot, and Prugh Farm Plot. To the south, the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport occupies the plateau, while across the water in Illinois, the landscape shifts to a network of drainage ditches like the Ellison Creek Diverson Ditch and backwater features like Carthage Lake.