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2018 Map of Des Moines SE

Name: 2018 Topographic Map of Des Moines SE
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 2018
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 2018

About this map

The Des Moines River and Raccoon River converge at the heart of this central Iowa landscape, framing the industrial and residential growth of the state capital. Modern infrastructure is evident in the numerous crossings like the Grand Avenue Bridge and the Southwest Fifth Street Bridge, while historical preservation is marked by the Owens Covered Bridge near Lake Easter. The map reveals the city's complex social history through its burial grounds, including the Children of Israel Cem and Laurel Hill Cem.

Beyond the urban core of Des Moines and East Des Moines, the landscape transitions into established communities like Pleasant Hill and Carlisle. Small settlements such as Carbondale, Avon, and Levey are interspersed among significant water bodies like Case Lake and Dean Lake. This survey provides a clear view of the area's transition from river-bottom wetlands to a major metropolitan hub, bound to the south by the Polk Co and Warren Co line.