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1907 Map of Des Moines

Name: 1907 Topographic Map of Des Moines
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1919
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1919

About this map

Des Moines serves as the focal point of this 1907 survey, revealing the city's complex rail infrastructure and early suburban layout before the major expansions of the mid-20th century. The confluence of the Des Moines River and Raccoon River anchors the central district, surrounded by distinct neighborhoods like Highland Park and Easton Place. Industrial and recreational hubs are clearly marked, including the sprawling State Fairgrounds and the Chautauqua Grounds along the riverbanks.

Rural Polk County is dotted with one-room schoolhouses like the Red Brick School and Frize School, serving agricultural communities such as Ankeny and Saylorville. The map captures a transitional era for local transit, showing several Electric lines radiating from the city center to outlying points like Valley Junction. A dense web of steam railroads, including the Chicago Great Western and Chicago Rock Island and Pacific, illustrates the region's importance as a Midwestern transportation gateway.