1963 Map of Cedar Falls

About this map

The Cedar River and West Fork Cedar River dominate this landscape, where the urban expansion of Cedar Falls and Waterloo meets the surrounding agricultural townships of Washington and Mount Vernon. The map captures the significant presence of the Univ of Northern Iowa and a dense network of educational institutions like Laboratory High Sch and Cedar Falls High Sch. Settlement patterns follow the riverbanks and the heavy rail corridors of the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific and Illinois Central railroads. The 1970s updates, shown in purple, illustrate the suburban growth pushing into formerly rural areas near Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens (Cemetery) and along Rainbow Dr. Recreational and conservation spaces are prominent, notably the extensive George Wyth Memorial State Park and Island Park, which buffer the industrial and residential development of the twin cities.