1906 Map of Decorah

About this map

The Upper Iowa River carves a deeply winding path through the northern reaches of Winneshiek County, anchoring a landscape defined by 19th-century river towns and emerging rail junctions. Surveyed shortly after the turn of the century, the map reveals a mature agricultural and industrial network where the Chicago Milwaukee and St Paul RR and the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific RR intersect at major hubs like Decorah and Calmar. These railroads facilitated the growth of secondary settlements such as Postville and Spillville, while more isolated hamlets like Highlandville and Locust maintained the rural character of the uplands.