Loading map...

1956 Map of Des Moines NW

Name: 1956 Topographic Map of Des Moines NW
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1977
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1977

About this map

The Des Moines River corridor northwest of the city is dominated by the sprawling Camp Dodge Military Reservation and the massive infrastructure of the Saylorville Dam. This 1956 survey, updated through the mid-1970s, captures the significant transformation of the landscape as Saylorville Lake begins to inundate the valley. Smaller settlements like Herrold and Lovington are visible alongside the emerging suburban growth of Urbandale and Johnston.

Genealogists and local historians will find a dense concentration of rural landmarks, including the Union Cem, Valley View Cem, and Rittgers Cem. The rail-driven economy of the era is evidenced by the Chicago and North Western tracks, while the region's agricultural roots are preserved at the Iowa State University Experimental Farm. From the aviation history of Dodge Airport to educational markers like Olmstead Sch, the map documents a transition from a river-valley farming community to a modern metropolitan edge.