Loading map...

1907 Map of Des Moines

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

USGS Topo · Published 1907

About this map

Des Moines sits at the confluence of the Des Moines River and Raccoon River, serving as a massive railroad hub in the early 1900s. The city's growth is marked by established neighborhoods like Highland Park and Easton Place, while the outlying areas are defined by a dense network of country schools such as Red Brick School, McDivitt Grove School, and Prairie Green School.

The landscape is tied together by an incredible density of rail lines, including the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific RR and the Interurban Electric RR. To the south, the military presence at Fort Des Moines is clearly established, while the State Fairgrounds and Chautauqua Grounds highlight the city's role as a regional cultural center. Smaller mining and industrial settlements like Oralabor, Carbondale, and Marquisville ring the capital, illustrating the varied economy of Polk County before later suburban expansion.