1956 Map of Des Moines
Loading...
Loading map...

1956 Map of Des Moines

USGS Topo · Published 1956

About this map

The Des Moines metropolitan hub and its surrounding central Iowa river valleys are captured here just as the mid-century suburban expansion was beginning to reshape the landscape. The confluence of the Des Moines River and the Raccoon River anchors the capital city, while the Beaver Creek and North River systems define the drainage of the surrounding agricultural counties. In this era, the Iowa State College Experimental Farm near Ames highlights the region's deep connection to agricultural science, and the Sac and Fox Indian Reservation remains a distinct cultural landmark along the Iowa River to the northeast. Transport is dominated by a heavy concentration of rail infrastructure, including the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul and Pacific and the Rock Island and Pacific lines, which supported industrial centers in Ottumwa, Newton, and Oskaloosa before the full dominance of the interstate highway system.


Find a feature on this map

82 named features on this map. Tap any name to fly to it.

Don’t see what you’re looking for? This feature index may not catch every label — zoom into the map to look around manually.


Map Details

Date Portrayed1956
Date Published1956
PublisherU.S. Geological Survey
Map TypeTopographic
Scale1:250,000
Physical Dimensions33.81 x 23.54 inches

Editions of this 1956 Des Moines Map

This is the sole edition of this map. No revisions or reprints were ever made.


Historical Maps of Des Moines Through Time


Featured Locations


Source Details

CopyrightPublic Domain